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GAZETTEER 



OF THE 



STATE OF NEW-YORK ; 

CAREFULLY WRITTEN FROM ORIGINAL AND AUTHENTIC MATERIALS, 
ARRANGED ON A NEfV PLAN, 

IN THREE PARTS: 

COMPRISIJ^G, 

FIRST— A COMPREHENSIVE QEOORAPHICAt AND STATISTICAI VIEW OF TBB WHOM STATS, 
CONVENIENTLT DISPOSED USDER S£FABAT£ HEADS : 

S ECOND^AW AMPtE GESTERAL VIEW OF EACH COtTITTT, IN AtPHABETICAI OBDEH, WITH 
TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLES, SHOWINO THE CITIL AND POLITICAL BIVI" 
6I0NS, POPULATION, FOST.OFFICES, &C. : 

THIRD — A "VJiRT FULL AND MINUTE TOPOGRAPHICAL DE9CHIPTI0N OP EACH TOWN 03.' 
TOWNSHIP, CITr, BOROUGH, VILLAGE, StC. &C., IN THE WHOLE STATE, ALPHABETICALL*.' 
ARRANGED ; AS also its LAKES, RIVERS, CREEKS, WITH EVERT OTHER SUBJECT OP To- 
yOQRAFHICAL DETAIL : FORJmno 4. COMPLETE GAZETTEER OB QEOGRAPHICAIi D^CTIO^'AIlT 
•r TUS STATE OF NEW-TORE. 

WITH AN ACCURATE MAP OF THE STATE. 



BY HORATIO GATES SPAFFORD, A. M. 

' Author of a Geography of the United States, 

A Member of the New- York Historical Society, and a Corresponding Secretary of 



the Society of Arts. 






-(P /V.- 



ALBANY : %■. 



PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. C. SOUTflWiCE, 

No. 94, State-Street. 

m 

1813. 




Jii^„in hy .ir* Hr Sita/fmt V^-_^ 



JCr>4/r^ ^^■ IfJfuyrnc/, . JVi.v,/* XJ. 



DISTRICT OP J\rEW-YORK, si. 

BE IT BE'jrEMBERED, that on the twelfth day of August, in the thirty-eighth year 
of the Independence of the United States of America, Horatio Gates Spafford, of 
the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right where- 
of he claims as autlior, in the words following, to wit : 

" A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF J\rEW-YORK ; carefully written 
from original and authentic materials, arranged on a new plan — in three parts : — 
Comprising— j^jVs^ A comprehensive Geographical and Statistical View of the 
whole State, conveniently disposed under separate heads. — Second. An ample gene- 
ral view of each County, in alphabetical order, wilh topographical and statistical 
tables, showing the civil and political divisions, population, post-offices, &c. — 
Third. A very full and minute Topographical description of each Town or Town- 
ship, City, Borough, Village, &c , &c., in the whole State, alphabetically arranged; 
as also its Lakes, Rivers, Creeks, with every other subject of Topographical de- 
tail : forming a complete Gazetteer or Geographical Dictionary of the State of 
Kew York: With an accurate Map of the State. By Horatio Gates Spaffoiib. A.M^ 
Author of a G-^ngraphy of the United States, a Member of the New-York Histori- 
cal Society, and a Corresponding Secretary of the Society of Arts." 

In conformity to'lhe art of Congress of the United States, entitled " An act 
for the encouragement of learning," by securing the copies of maps, charts and 
books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time herein men- 
tioned." And also to an act, entitled " An act supplementary to an act, entitled 
" An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing tlie copies of maps, charts 
and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein 
mentiont-d, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving" 
and etching historical and other prints." 

THERON RUDD, 
€terk of the District (>f JSexv-Tork. 



.f 



>• 



F 






PREFACE. 

When I undertook to write a Gazetteer of the State of New- York, I was per- 
fect' v^ aware that it must be a work of very considerable libor ; and I made my ar- 
" rans;ements accordingly. In feeble health, however, and in the hope to receive 
some benefit from travellinff, I prepared to visit the most populous parts, and most 
of the principal Towns, for the purpose of collecting the necessary information, 
and the proper :n iteriils ibr my Work. In this way I visited a large proportion of 
the several Counties, arranging my Correspondence with men of the best intelli- 
o-ence, and adopting such meiisures as appeared necessary to my purpose. After 
some months, and having collected a mass of matter, I began to write the Topo- 
craphical Descriptions, and had made very considerable progress, before I disco- 
vered that, to satisfy ray own mind, I must radically alter the plan of my Work. 

A mere collection of Counties and Towns, with the usual topics in a work of this 
kind, in dry detad, forms, to my mind, but an uninteresting and unsatisfactory ske- 
leton of knowledge ; — of little dignity, and far less utility than the subject would 
seem to demand. To devise a plan that should obviate these objections, at least 
so f u" as was consistent with the original design, however desirable, would ueces- 
Rarily subject me to a great increase of labor, and that too at a time when my 
health and ability were rapidly declining, and left me very little of hope to en- 
courage any exertion. My original materials were every day accumulating, and 
now formed a mass far greater than I had ever expected to collect. The public 
attention was aroused ; letters poured in from all quarters of the State, bringing 
me important inibrraation for my Work, and already was public impatience calling 
for the Book ! 

At that moment I resolved to reject all I had written, to adopt the plan in which 
the Gazetteer now appears, and to write the whole anew. The result is, at length, 
before the public ; — and although I have made my best efforts, under such circum- 
sta!if es, to render it worthy its high public patronage, am still constrained to apo- 
logize for its many defects, and to solicit the indulgence of the public. 

The method I adopted to collect authentic materials, was to address Letters to 
men of the best information in every Township, and, generally, in cvcvj little Vil- 
lage also in the State. In these Letters were enumerated the kinds of information 
that I desired, in the form of questions, to be answered by Correspondents : and 
the very general and prompt attention which they received, demands my warmest 
thanks. The initial letters, subjoined to the Topographical Descripiions, will 
serve to indicate the liberality of my Correspondents, and the authorities on which 
the descriptions are founded; and they will. I hope, be regarded as a proper ac- 
knowledgment on the part of the Author, for so much generous zeal. For, inde- 
pendent of my own verbal collections, and those made by my immediate Agents,* 
the matter for this Work has been extracted from more than one thousand original 
Letters, written by attentive Correspondents, of the best information, residh)g in 
every County, Town, Village and Settlement, the subject of Description. Nor 
roust I, while noticing the liberal aid and patronage of individuals, fail to acknow- 
ledge that of the State, which I shall long cherish in most respectful remembrance. 

As a pecuniary enterprize, the history of my undertaking is very short ; — it has 
employed near three years of my time, consumed more than all of my pecuniary 
means, and has, as yet, produced nothing. I have expended upon it more thau 
seven thousand dollars, and am impatient, as I shall soon knotv, whether the pub- 
He sentiment will adjudge me a remuneration. 

HORATIO GATES SPAFFORD. 

Albany, 8mo. 12, 1813. 



The Author sent one Agent, at his own expense, into every Town of three remote Counties, to make 
Jie necessary collections of materials. 



CONTENTS OF THE GENERAL VIEW. 

Page; 

Situation and Extent, Boundaries and Area, and Civil Divisions, 5 

General Topographical and Statistical Table, 6 

Cities and Principal Towns, Post-Towns and Post-Ofiices, Face 

of the Country, and General Description, .... 8 

Mountains, .9 

Geology, 10 

Lakes, Rivers and Creeks, 11 

Climate, Seasons and Winds, . .12 

Inland Navigation and Canals, 14 

Bays and Islands, 15 

Roads, Turnpikes and Bridges, 16 

Soil and Agriculture, 17 

Vegetable and Animal Productions, 20 

Domestic Zoology, 21 

Wild Animals, . . ib. 

Fishes, Birds, and Serpents, 22 

Insects, V 23 

Mineralogy, ib. 

Mineral Waters, 24 

Government, Constitution and Laws, 25 

Revenue, Expenses and Taxes, 28 

School Fund, 31 

Military Strength, 32 

Fortifications and Forts, . . ib. 

Religion, . 33 

Manners and Customs, 34 

Language, 38 

Literature and Science, ib. 

Regents of the University, . 40 

Education, ib. 

Academies, 42 

University of New-York, 43 

Union College, 44 

Botanic Garden, 45 

Banks, 46 

Insurance Companies, . » 48 

Progressive Population, ib. 

Manufactures, . . . - 49 

Commerce and Trade, 53 

Societies, . . ib. 

State-Prison, or Penitentiary, 54 

Natural Curiosities, 56 

Indians, ^"^ 

History, 59 to 62 



GENERAL 

GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL 



YI 



OF THE » 

STATE OF NEW-YORK. 

ARnA.YGED UJVDER THE FOLLOWLYG HEADS. 
SiTUATio:*^ AM) Extent. Eoundahiks axd Area. Citie Divisions. General To- 
ro'^;aAPHUAL and Statistical Table. Cities and Piiinch'ai Towns. Post 
Towns AND Post-Offices. Face orTUECorNTiiY andGeneiial Descuiption, IMoun- 
TAiNS. Geologt. Lakes, Rtveiis, anb Creeks. Cluiate, Seasons, and Winds. 
Inland Navigation and Canals. Bats and Islands. Roads, Turnpikes, and 
BitiDGES. Soil and AaRicETLUTtiiiE. Vegetable and Animal Pkodlctions. 
MiNERALor,T: Mineral Waters. Government, Constitution, and Laws. Fi- 
nances : Revenue, and Expenses; School Fund. Military Strength. For- 
YiFicATiONS and Forts. Relk;ion. Manners and Customs. Language. Lite- 
rati] re and Science. Regents OF THE L'niveh'sitt. Education : Schools; Aca- 
demies; Colleges ; Unitersiti' OF Nf.w-YoRK. Botanic Garden. Banks. In- 
surance Companies. Progressive Population. Manufactures. Commerce and 
Trade. Societies; Agricultural, Literary, Benevolent, &c. State Prison, 
OB Penitentiaht. Natural Curiosities. Indians. History. 

SITUATION AM) EXTENT. 

Greatest cTv-tcntN. & 5i., 304,'^ r CoQ'^ 45' &45°, N. l-atltudo. 

Greatest extent E. & W., 316, ^ 5 < 5° 47 ' w. long-. & 47 ' Iv Ion;-, from N. York : or 

Exclusive of l.ong-IslaiKl. J 5 C.^" 47' w. long. ?i 2" 10 ' E. long, with L. Island. 

Bou?fi)AUiFs AND Area. The STATE of NEW-YORK, is boiincled southerly on 
llie Atkintic Ocean, an extent of 128niiles right line ; E. by Connecticut, Massachu- 
setts and Vermont ; N. by Latitude 45", or Canada line ; N. V/. by the British pos- 
Kessi<>!'.ij in Canada, an extent of 350 miles — the line being the cliannel of the St. 
Lawnence, Lake Ontario, Niagara River, and Lake Erie ; W. by Pennsylvania, 28 
•miles ; S. by Pennsylv;.nia, 217 miles ; S. W. by the Delaware river or Pennsylvania, 
58 miles ; S. \V. by New-Jersey, ' 46 miles ; W. by New-Jersey, or the W. bank of 
Huds(;n river. Tliis teiTitory comprijies an area of 46,085^ squai-e miles, equal to 
29,494,720 acres'; but this computation includes all the mland rivers and lakes; 
our half of I^ake Churaplain and the St. Lav.rence ; excluding, only, all the waters 
below New-York-Islar.d, and that part of the Lakes Ontario and" Erie, which be- 
long to this state. This gives 20.8 persons to a square mile. The area of Eng- 
land and Wales, ia computed at 49,450 square miles, to each of v;hich the ag-gre- 
gate population gives 192 persons. The area of Scotland, is 2f ,793 square miles ; 
average population 57- The area of Ireland, 30,373 square miles ; average popula- 
tion, 13t> to a square mile. 

(^iviL BiviiSioN?. This state is at present divided into 45 Counties, and 453 
Towns, inchiding 4 incorporated Cities, Nev,--Ycrk, Albany, Hudson and Schenec-. 
tady. Counties and Town:;, are tracts of land of various cxtent,orgaiui;cd for the 
purposrs of civil government. See Govehnment. 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 












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GENERAL YIEAV OF NEW-YORK. 



C'Ti£s AA-D PniscTPAL TowNs. New-Yoi'k, Albanj", Hudson raid Schenectady, 
are incorporated iis Cities. Besides these, there are main other incorporations of 
a second degree,denomLAatedVilh'.g'('S. Theseare such considerable compact settle- 
ments, as have local interests to jnoniote, distinct from those oi the surrounding in- 
habitants. See article, GovErx.'iiKNT. The name, and the number oiliouses meachot 
these, are given in the General TopogTaphical and Statistical Table ; enlarged m 
that of the respective counties, and described at large under the alplrabetical 
order of their respective names. Other little Villages, u!i incorporated, art also in, 
dicated in tlie Tables— us are settlements, k^o^vn by local r.amts, and described 
under the same order of arrangement. 

Post-Tow Ns, akd Post-Officks. In the description of Towns, such as contain 
Post-offices, are denominated Post-Towns. And where one town contains r/.veral 
post-offices, theseare mdic.-ted bv their respective names ; and, m general, tnc 
distance Irom Albany, or som.e other noted place, is given m miles, on the nearest 
or most aimroved travelling route. It not mifrequeiitly hr.ppens, tl.at the post-ot- 
■fice or post-offices are known by difi'erent munes from that ol the 'I'own m -.vliicii 
they are situated. In tlie Tables, such Towns as have a single post-othce, ot the 
same name as the Town, are mai-ked P. O., m the column ol post-ofltces ; u one ot 
the same name, and one other office of a diih-renc ni.me, it is mral-.-d P. O. 1, and 
the name of the other, under the column of Villages, Remauks, g.-.c. has a P.O., 
attached to it; if sever:.!, thev are respectively indicated in tlve s^ne manner. l>ut 
if it have no post-office of its own name, aiid ore or more knowiiJ>y dittertnt names, 
the number onlv, of those, is expressed in the column of post-olRccs, and their res- 
pective names have each a P. O., attached to them, as above. 

In the General Topographical tmd Statistical Table, tlie number of post-othces ui 
each county, is given in the 7th column; in the 8tb, is the- official capital of each 
County. If this" town has a post-off.ce of its own name, P. O. is attacbeil to it ; if 
not, but it contain a post-office known bv a dlilerent name, P. T. is attached to it, 
to indicate that it is a post town ; and the name of the nearest post-olnce must be 
sought, either at the right hand, under Villages, &c., or In tlie County Tables. 
The 10 ch column of the General fable, gives the distance of each County Town, 
from Albany. 

Face of the CotrxTiiv j asd Geiveual DfiscuiPTiox. — No part of the science of 
(Geography is more important than wlint may be termed the physiognomy of the 
subjects of general description : and r.o part is usually more neglected. Moimtams^ 
Lakes and Rivers, are strong features, easily impressed on the mmd; and AVithout 
distinct impressions, the study cf geography presents but a useless confusion of 
figures, names, and forgotten and barren details. l,ookmgon the Map, v.c perceive 
the general and irregular form of this state. In the S., Nassau, or Long-Island and 
Staten-Island, give us a great extent of Sea-board ; at the N. E. vve bound on ar.d 
comprise one half of Lake Champlain ; and at the N. W., bound on and con.prlse 
one half of the great St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario, Niagara river, and a sm.tli share 
of LiJce Erie. The Hudson is wholly v/ith in this state ; and opens a slup naviga- 
tion without impediment, 142 miles ; or large sloop navigation, 172; and a small 
one, as far as the influence of the tide extends, being 170 miles trcm Ncw-Yoi'k,or 
182 li-om the Narrows, and 200 from.'Sandy-ilook. No river of Europe, car/ies the 
tide more than 70 miles; and though the Thames besaid tobcnavigubie for sloops 
of 90 tons, 138 miles, it is onl\' rendered so liv cxj)ei:s:ve locks, cuts and canals. 
The Mohawk opens a boat navigation far nito the western region, which is much 
interspersed with small lakes, and abundantly furmslied with riv(-rs and creeks 
that afford impcjrtant'f.ci'uiies of inland intercourse and navigation, and abund;uil 
conveniences for hydraulic works. 

Impressed with these generrd outlines, we shall be able to conccivi^ tlu' promi- 
nent features of that diversified surface, that distinguishes tlie vaUies_ and plains 
from the adjacent hills and mountains : But the moimtainn, a stron.';-er feature, will 
be noticed under a separate article ; as will, also, the rivarn. Along the Hudson, 
from rhe head of Manhattan, or York-Island, the country is broken and uneven to 
Hudson. In the Highhvnds, mountainous and very rocky. And though there be 
extensive plains, and some large alluvial tracts along the rivers and creeks, the 
whole may be denominated broken and hilly S. of the I^Iokawk ; at least when com- 
pared wltli ihe extensive western regi.m ot tliis state. From the IMohawk north- 
v.'ard, the S. eastern part is hilly ; and bccoraes moiuitainotw toward theN.,fovminjj; 



GENERATi VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 



* the lilgh lands that divide the waters of the Hudson and St. Lawrence; ranging 
parallel with Champlain, and at no srreat distance. W. of these, a fine country, at 
first hillv, tlien level and fertile, extends to the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario. 
From ili'e Oneida lake, all tliose to the westward, occupy a more level tract ; while 
the southern part, g-lving- rise to the Susquehanna, Allegany, and other waters, 
becomes first hilly, and then movmtainous, as we approach the N. line of Pennsyl- 
vanja ; more particularly on the waters of the Susquehanna — the hills being- less 
rugged and steep as we go westward. 

Long-Island merits sepai-ate notice, as its description is of a separate character. 
See Long -Inland, and Jkrapstead plain. 

AfouNTAirys. Treating of the mountains of the United States, Geographers have 
usually described them under the general appellation of Apallacliian or Alieg'a- 
nean mountains ; wliile in more limited descriptions, of a smaller extent of territo- 
ry, local names and sepiu-ate descriptions have been assigned to various portions of 
these, as if the whole v/ere not continuous. But the influence of extensive chains 
or ridges of mountains on the general and local climate, in producingmodifications 
of temperature, winds, andweatlier, is becoming better known; and science and phi- 
losophy have been well employed in studyinp,- the physiology of various portions 
of the globe, tracing cav.se from efrect, and sJolving many of the phenomena of na- 
ture which had been but partially vmderstocd. These remailcs are rendered ne- 
cessary, to introduce that plan of considerAion, which leads me to treat of the 
moiui tains of this state, as being a part of the grand Apallacliian chain, which ex- 
tends from ?Jairic to Georgia. Were it not i'oi* the fact, abundantly established by 
observation, that this range divides the Atlantic or e^vstern, from the inland or 
..western climate, less attention would be due to general remarks imder this head. 
See Climatk axu Sn.isoss. The Katskiil, or iUiinkill-^ monatains, are much the 
largest and most extensive in this state ; and are a nrain bifurcation of the Ap- 
allachian chain, wliicli extends from Nev.'-Jersey and Pennsylvania, under the local 
names oi Shau-angirnk; a principal ridge of great extent, and some others of less 
note. To describe all these minutely, is not the design of this work; though some 
general notices m.ust form a part of a general description. And the description of 
the several counties wliich are traversed by tlie Catsberg mountains, or liy the hills 
that extend from those, must be consulted for niove minute nnd ample information. 
At the Highlands, tlie Apallachian ridges occupy a tract of about 16 miles in 
M'idtl), lying obliquely across the Hudson, here penetrated by that river, and 
woin dovv'n to the level of its course. Preserving iheir general direction, these 
hills stretch across Dutchess, the eastern parts of Columbia and llensselaer coun- 
ties, or occupy the v/estern borders of Connecticut and Massachusetts, till thev 
resume tiieir former magnitude and form the (Jrcen-iilountalns of Vermont. Nor 
are thene hills without some lofty sunmdts. Tlie Tauccnick movrntains are loftr 
and very rugged ; and Hoosack and "Williamstown mountains, are well v/orthy the 
appellation, lint t!ie Catsberg, or Catbkiil mountains, which stretch olf norlh from 
tile Higiiian.ds, then curve wesivvaru through Ulster and Greene counties, pre- 
sent some summits of greater altitude than any others of the Apallachian chain, 
il'vre except the AViiite hills in New-Hampshire. At the Highlands, the summit 
of Butter-hill, is 1432 feet above the level of the river; tliat called the Cro-ws-ncsl, 
1330; jBidl-hill, 1S91; West-Point plain, ITG feet; Tort Patnam, 561 feet. About 
60 miles N., the /I'sMM J- 'i'o/), is found to be elevated 3655 flet above the level of 
the river; the Hirh-I-eak, 34S7. These summit;! are in Wmdhaui, Greene county," 
fbont 20 miles W. of Hudson, and in full view from that city. A turnpike road 
which crosses this range of mountains near those summits, winds up till it reach, 
tlie astonishing altitude of 2274 feet; and from this spot, the view is inexpressibly 
grand. The description of Turnpikes and Mountains, do not belong to the same 
:a't:cle; but it m.ay be of some consequence to inform the indolent that his immense 

J .1 contemptible name, luhen applied to a chain of 'inonntains. Kut, in the language 
cflhe early inhabit ante of this region, is Cat — Alll, is creek. So that Cat ski II, applied 
to tlie creek of that name, is tolerable — but by -what whim of caprice a Imge and exten- 
sive juountain should have received this name, it may not be easy to conjecture. Kuts, 
er Catsberg, -vauld be Catsmsxtntain ,- and the Dutch, from-ivhom. these names have been 
derived, coulil not object to ihisciMuge of appellation, Jfit be preferable to call a Mouil- 
tain, a Creek, Catsberg -afin of course bo rejected, ' 



10 GENEKAL VIEW OF KEW-YORK. 

enriositv may be gratified at the expense of his horse-. The general altitude of th^ 
Catsbcr'fc, or the Catskill mountains, may be computed at about 2900 to 3000 feet, 
across C-Jreene County. From Greene, they pas.'i into Schoharie Cgunty ; but the 
ridges become less rugged, and spread ever the sou.tlu-rn part, less continuous and 
distinctly defined; some reaching N., but tlic gcner:'.l direction is towards the N.W., 
forming a detached mass of broken hills, guthercd into a kind of knot at the Little 
Jails of tlie Mohawk. After forming 'the Little Falls, thi.s range traverses 
Herkimer County, forming the rugged tract of the Royal Grants, and a range 
of broken gromid on the N. of Black River, diminishing in altitude till it 
cross the St. Lawrence into Canada, at the Thousarid Islands. But v/hile the 
main chain 1luis curves to the westward, a considerable spur hcids a north- 
ern course into Albany County, and along the eastern conlinesof Schoharie.' These 
liills or mountains have also 'received their name liom the early Dutch ir.'habi- 
tants; and were called t\\& HeMerberL^,\ or clear- mountain, instead of vlie lofty 
summits presented by granitic and shistic mountains^ tliis range presents an ele- 
vated plain of considerable and very uniform altitude. Its sides, in man)- places, 
presenting high and lofiy precipices, quite perpendicular ; and the rocks abound witli 
tliose muscular impressions, so common in calcareous stones; as also, in caverns 
of gi-cat extent, another common featme of calcareous regions. It only remains 
now to notice the ^lountainous country around Lake George and to the W. of Lake 
Cliamplain, called the Peruvian Mountains ; which furnisli the northern sources of 
tlie Hudson, and form the height of land that separates the water.<5 of the Hudson 
and St. Lawrence. The greatest altitude of any part of this tract, is found in soiue 
summits of Essex Covmty. The highest of tliese, is probably that called IFkite- 
face, in the Town of Jay,' which commands a view of Montreal, .at tlie distance of 
"near 80 miles. The altitude of this summit, is little short of 3'JOO feet from the 
level of l>:tke Champlain. See Jay, or Whiie-face, and also, Giani of the Vullet/, ano- 
ther lofty summit, in EUzabethtown. These mountains were named Peru, 
by the early French inhabitants, in allusion to their supposed mineral trea-. 
sures, as were also their settlem.ent and the Ray on Lake Champlain: and I see no 
good objection to the name. At any rate, since a mountain suffers not by a bad 
name, any one is preferable in Geography, and the purposes of description, to no 
name. They probablyare richer in minerals, than any otjier portion of ourmovmtains, 
if T may be' allowed to judge from the various samples sent me by Correspondents. 

Some brief geologic notices must now close this. ;u-ticle, ali-eadyroolcngt!iy formy 
general design. But the mountains of this state, form a very important feature of 
"its natural geography ; and they have never been described witli sufficient miraite- 
ness, nor duly considered in relation either to the general system of those of the 
United States, or their influence on our climate. 

With some 'ii:\\' exceptions, the whole country S. of the Highlands, is underlaid 
by rocks of granite, though superstrata of other rocks appear in the elevated tracts. 
There are some small tracts of limestone, and some of sand-stone ; but the:jc are 
too inconsiderable in extent, to obviate the genei-al pi-opricty of denominating 
this the granitic region. Some rang-es of hills, on the W. of the Hudson, compo- 
sed of sand-stone, are evidently underlaid by gi-ariite. But wiicn we arrive at the 
Higliiands, the sand-stone appears no more unde}daiu b\' granite ; and the Calsherg, 
or the Catskill mountains, are a mass of sand-itor.e; siinilar ta tlie Allegany moun- 
tains in Pennsylvania, variously intermixed with lirae, through their whole cxtcni. 
The Helderberg-, is calcareous, though some ])articles of sand-stcnc are vciy e\j- 
dent hi some parts. N. and E. of the Highlands^ the rocks are principally sh.istic, 
that form the substratum ; while calcareous ridges of great extent, occupy the 
surface. The hills on the eastern border of Columbia and Rensr-elacr Counties, are 
formed principally of fragile shistus, Viiriously intermixed vrith quart?, and occasional 
superstrata of limestone. On the eastern declivities of these hills, the limestone 
jH'cdominates, forming the marble quarries of Stockbridgc, Lancsborcugh, &c., in 
Massachusetts. The N. western continuation of the Catsberg, piesents a kind f)f 
calcareous gi-anite, in which the absence of the feldt-spar is supplied by primitive 
iimestone. 

■j- Tills name from a mistalni etiimology, is sometimes -.vritten Ilellcburoh, cijnl Jlellc- 
hcrffh, in terrible allusion to the dreaij' cavervs. Helierber:^, ?> the proper nntnf, n-'i 
the only corrget ortho^^-rapfni. 



GEXEBAL YiEW OF NEW-YORK. 11 



The Peruvian mountains, are principiilly granitic, though ridges of limeston?, 
slate, flint, and sand-stone, iippear not iini'requently in conglomerate masses, as if 
nature defied tlie art of man in defining her productions by the classificu.tions of 
general theory. And these are the ridges that, detached from the regular ranges, 
abound most in mineral treasures. The pudding-stone, or farcilite of Kirwan"^ ig 
- found in abimdance in the ferruginous tracts of these movmtains, and those masses 
are constantly growing by induration. The mountainous tracts that furnish the 
sources of the Delaware and Susquehanna, are of sand-stone like the Catsberg, but 
variousl}- intermixed with limestone : and in some places the lime predominates, 
as it does at the Little Fall.^, and those of W. Canada creek. All the level coun- 
try of the small western lakes, is calcareous. That nortln^ard of the Moliawk, 
granitic in general, but with many exceptions in favor of limestone, and fragile 
shistus. The Cohoes, the falls at Fort Miller, and Baker's falls, are forniLcL by 
fragile shistus. At Glenn's, the lime and sand predominate. At Caldwell, 
around the head of L. George, the rocks are most singularly forn]ed and inter- 
mixed wivli limestone, granite, and the calcareous granite above mentioned, with 
tlie sand-stone of Allegany and Catsberg, which may all befound within tiie space of 
a few acres. The Tauconick hills, that border the S. eastern part of Columbia Co., 
are granitic. 

Laives, Rivers, and Chekks. — The rivers of this state, are numerous and ex- 
tensive. But I shall only give a mere catalogue of the most important Lakes, 
liivcrs and Creeks, in this place, and refer the reader to the Gazetteer, for tl.cir 
respective descriptions, under Die :J]5habetical order of their names. , 

The HxjjDsok, claim.s the first place, and the JNIouawk, the next of any rivers of 
this state ; and the Sacaxdaga, tlie next largest branch of the Hurlson, thoug-!i lit- 
tle used now by reasoTi of the present wildness of its borders, will ultimately ex- 
tend important facilities of mtercourse to a considerable population. The distinc- 
tions of J^'orth, and J\'. E. branches of the Hudson, ought to give place to the 
contiiHious nanie of IIldso-v ; and yciiooN llinn, which is connected with iScroo?i 
and Branl LuLea. 

Crcpks of the lIvnsoN. The Batienkill, Iloosack, JPoesten, Abrams^ or Factorv, .Tan- 
sens' m- Ancram, IVapping-ei-yFishLill, Peekskill, Croto)i and Hanrlem Creeks, aj-e t]»e 
principal of tliose which it receives from the east; as are lish, or JCyadcrossoras, 
which dischrrges the wuters oi' Saratoga Lake; Anthoiiv's, those of Zoh^-- Lake ; 
A'armans, Bethlehem, Coeijmuni:, Coxnaekie, Cats, Esopus, Jiitmlotd, one of the lar- 
gest, com]oosod of ll'allkill, ;md •Shuwungunk Creeks ; and Murderers', or Murtlcr.," 
Creeks, wliicii it receives from the W. 

Crci-:ks of the Mohawk. The principal of tliese are, on the vA*, IV. and E. Cana- 
(!•■:, Garnga, Juhnsto-wn, Chuctenunda and Aelplaats' creeks ; on the S., Oriska?ir., 
Si:hqi!eda, Oisfjuaga, and Schoharie creeks, tlie latter being the 'most considerable ; 
and indeed it might l)e classed with the rivers, but for common usage, which as- 
signs tlie name of creek. CobuskiU, is a branch of this stream. 

I'he SirsarEiiAXNA, rises in this state, and receives its waters fi-om 5,250 square 
miles of oiu- territory. The Tioga, its western brancli, may well merit t!)c name 
of ri-\ er, while the Tioi/ffhnioga, the Chauiiigo, and Unudilla, the other principal 
branches, though occasionally called rivers, had better belong, in my comparative 
scale, to the class of large creeks. The largest of tlie other creeks of this river, 
are, Canisteo, Caiiuta, ()\i-ego, OtseUck, A'aniicoke, liuttcrimt, Sheiievus, and Char- 
lotle creeks. Oisego, and Schitijlers or Canaderaga lakes, form the sources of the E. 
branch, or proper Sisacr.HAXsA. 

The DELAWAa£, forms a part of our western boundary, and receives Cookquage, 
Fnpachtan, which reci:ives Beaver creek, Mongaiip, and JVavcsink creeks, con- 
siderable branches from the east. 

The Alxegant, a main branch of tlie Ohio, rises in this state. Tlie principal creeks 
that we furnish it ar.e, Connawongo, French, Cosduuga, Greni and Little Vallnj, Glean, 
and Oil Creeks. The Chatauqua Lake discharges into Conns-wongo Creek. The CatU' 
ravgiis, and Buffalo Creeks, run into LAKE! EUlE ; Toneivanda raid ElHcott's Creeks, 
mtoNiAGAiiA River, which forms a part of our western boundary. LAKE ONTARIO, 
the half of which is within this state, receives the Genesee, which aspires to the name 
of river, the Osw£uo, and Black rivers. Men's is tlie principal creek of Genesk* 



12 Gl^-NFPAL VIEW OF NEW- YORK. 



Kivj;r, but it. receives ihe waters of several others, and those of the little lakes 
Ckmems, Hemlock, Honeyoye, and some others. 

The Oswego RiVEn, is constituted of many otlicr streams, also dignified with the 
name of river ; being the outlets of many lai<es,. which take their respective names. 
See the m.ip. It discharges mto the OXTARTO, the collected waters of the Ccman- 
daigxia Lake ar.d Creek, (or Uimr, if you please,) J>lud Creek, Crooked Lake and 
Creek, Seneca Lake and Creek, Cayuga, Owasco, SkeJieateles, Otisco, Cross Lake, 
Onondaga, ^nd the 0«e«Ja /-.which discharges those from the Chiiieiiinso, Canasera- 
ga,Limest()ne, Oneida Creek, // ood. Fish, ;dul some other smaller creeks, „nd the waters 
of Linkluen Lake. The Ontario als() receives, Old or Oak Orchard, Onyocheeca, Ge- 
rundcgut, or TeoronCo, one or tv/o Salmon Creeks, one of which is dignified with rl- 
rer, by way of distinction, and several others of a stili smaller size. 

Black Rivek, receives Moose, Baaver, Beer, and many other smaller creeks. 

The St. LAwuI;^'CE, wash.cs more than 100 miles of our N. western boundary. It 
receives the Osv.'EGATntiE, AvJiidi receives Lulian Creek or River, unaBlack Lake ; 
the Gkass, Racklt, and the St: Regis Creek, sometimes dig'nified with Riveii, though 
excluded on this comparative scale. Tlie Salmon, and Cnataugay, rise in tliis state, 
but discharge into the St. Laweencf., N. of our line. These several rivers have 
many small creeks and lakes also, but of little importance, to enumerate here. 

LakeCmamplatx, is half ours. It receives from this state, Chazy,Saranack, Sable. 
r.nd Bouqnel, l-'rench n.;mes for considerr.ble creeks, dignified with the name of 
river ; besides the Litile Ckazy, the waters of Lake George, and Wood Creek of 
Chaniplain. Pa-:v!et, and Poulhiey Creeks, are waters also of Lake Champlain. — 
Dutchess County, furnishes some small creeks that run into the Ilousatonick, in 
Connecticut ; and Bronx, and Byram Creeks, rise in Westchester, discharging intn 
East RivEr., wliich belongs to this state, to near where it opens into Long-Island 
Sound. 

CListATE, Seasons, axu Pi;i:TAn,i:ya Wi3vns. — Embracing an extent of terri tor jv 
equal, in the extreme points, to 51° of Latitude, and 7" 57 ', or almost 8^ of Lon- 
gitude, with a very great diversity of surface and situation — an extensive sea-board 
of plain surface, including Long-lshnd ; a narrow n>aritime district around New- 
York, and mxich fluvl.itic along the Hudson, carrying- tide-water and sea-air far in- 
land ; an extensive Ijorder on large lakes ; an unexampled number of small lakes, 
and large and small rivers v,-illiin cur territory ; — ;.nd liavinp; a range of loi'ly moun- 
tains, this state presents all those diversities of clnnate, temperature and seasons, 
which its extent and jjosition would indicate. In tlie 8. we iiave the Atlantic cli- 
mate of 40" of N. Latitude ; and, wafted by southerly winds, the sea-air travels tiist 
to the N., and tempei's Uie climaic of tlie inland i-egions. On the northern bor- 
ders, the temperatures of 4.j'^, far inlaid from the ocean, where the southern air has 
little infiuence, and a few hours of N. wind, brings the temperatures of much 
higher latitudes. The N. winds arc usually arid and cold. Cut, hap])ily for Ainc- 
rica, that Apallachian back-bone which impedes the course of the mild and humid 
air travelling- from the s(.a-bo..rd into ilic interior, also serves'as a conducting me- 
dium for the S. western galec, generated to the AV. of this spine, prevents their i-e- 
turn to the sea, and causes the distinction of tlic eastern or ^Ulantic, from the in^ * 
land or -western climate. But the local modifications of climate in the sense here 
used, are innumerable : produced by localiTics of relative organization and posi- 
tion. And the local climate of a rich and fertile valley, diilers little more from 
that of a barren lull, Hum do thv)se of a rich, warm and fertile hill or dale, from a 
wet, cold, and sterile dale or phiin. See Suil a.vd AfiiiicrLTuiUv. 

Along the Hudson to the Highlands, tlie clin'.ate is little variant from that of the 
«ea-coast; and indeed, to the head of tide-w.aer, :md above, the climate is consid- 
erably modified by the prevailing winds diat traverse the Hudson. At Hudson, 
130 miles from New-York, the agricultural crops of grain, &.c., are usuaLy from lU 
to 12, and even 15 days earlier along the river, than they :-.re 15 to 20 miles back ; 
though some allowance must be made for dilfercnce of altitude, this being tlic 
western border of ti»e range of hills before noticed. And the l)irds of passage, a.s 
well as those that wmter "there, togetuer widi the usual germinat.jns of fruit and 
•ther vegetation, conform to about the same diilerence of period. 

Tlse ai)ove remarks are srificicnt to shew the difficulty oi' accommodating a;iy 
gencrv.1 obscrv^ticuu on our climate and seasons, to the whole "state, so extensive 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YOHK. 13 



and diversified : And p;'eneftil theories and observations ai-e too often the popular 
vehicles of splendid error. 

In the eastern climate, or all S. of the Highlands, where the prevailing' winds are 
southerly throuj^'h the warm seasons, the weather is very variable ; and the chan- 
!:;'os of temperature, governed by the winds, frequent and sudden. And as these 
winds traverse the valley of the Hudson, the same remarks are in some degree ap- 
plicable to the whole Huviestal district, penetrated by tide-water. The southerly 
winds, too, by prcvailinc: along the river from 18 to 25 days more in the 3'ear, than 
over the country 15 to 20 miles back, give a distinct character to the meteorolog^i^ 
of the valley, worthy of remembrance. While, tlierefore, southerly ciurents of air 
prevail in the basin of the llud.son, it is not unusual to observe a counter-current 
in the higher regions of the almosphere. To the hiunidity of sea-air, thus carried 
into the interior, and the electricitj of its vapor, are we indebted for the frequent 
showers in the middle and eastern regions of tl^.is state, collected by the attractive 
influent es of our mountain district. Daring summer, a few days of southerly wind 
]n-oduces a great change in our temperatiire, and loads the atmosphere with vapor. 
At first, this is seen to gaiiicr around the sides or summits of the Catsberg moun- 
tains, (or Catskiil if you ])lease,) always confomning in this particular to the com- 
parative den.sities of atmosphere ; till clouds are formed tliere, which produce 
showers of rain, usualiy attended with lightning. In this manner come, almost 
without exception, ;dl our thunder-gusts. And this process is repeated through the 
summer, as often as several days of sultry weatlier occur, attended with southerly 
winds. These showers, very seldom go westward from the point of formation, but 
usually between the N. and E. points of the horizon ; — and thus fortunately ex- 
tend over a great tract of country, indebted to this source for all its supplies of 
ruin, during summer : for, in winter, s])ring and autumn, we have a large share of 
©tir rain from tlic S. E., and of snow storms from the same quarter, or between the 
K. and N. These are im])ortant facts ; — and during ten years that I have carefully 
observed them, am at length prejjared to state them as such. At best, the seasons 
are but a mi?:ture of regularity and chance ; and as much of the results of human 
efforts and industry, depend on previous knowledge of tlieir modifications and chan- 
ges, to understand these as far as practicable, has justly become a subject of sci- 
entific enquiry. 

It can hardly be necessary to observe, that in the northern part of the state, the 
w: aihcr is less variable ; here the winters are long and severe, with a cleai* and 
settled sky. This region, extending from the southern extremity of Lake George, 
and westward to near Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence, may be distinguished by 
the region of the northern cUinate. That of the locstern climate, comprises the great 
western region of this state, extending- from the Catsberg mountains, (Catskill, if 
you choose,) to the great Lake^j. Here S. westerly winds prevail, in a very large 
proportion throughout the year. Smaller showers collect more frequently, and 
gales of wind arc much less common. A gentle current of air sets almost con- 
stantly from the 8. W. ; ;md N. aixi easterly winds are nearly unknown. In this re- 
gion, the average tem])eratures, ;u-e about uhree degrees higher than in similar lati- 
tudes, on the eastern climate. Such is the general character of the western climate 
of the United States ; and the distinction teiminates, or nearly so, with the region 
ai;out I^uke Ontario. This current may be traced from the Gulf of Mexico ; and I 
have myself carefully rbscrved and studied its progress through the western coun- 
try, f<u" a distance of more than 1000 miles. The western climate of this state i.s 
therefore warmer than the eastern, by about 3*^ of Fahrenheit : and the cause can 
only .be soug-ht in the greater prevalence of warmer cvirrents of air from the S. 
\V. — Every intelligc-nt farmer, perceives and acknowledges these facts ; and the 
more readily, if he has previously had the same opportunity of acquaintance with 
the climate, temperature and seasons of the Atlantic states. 

, The following extracts from my memoranda, give tlie most important of the re- 
sults of my observations on the temperature, climate, seasons, the weather, vege- 
iiition uikI agriculture of the region about Albany, during ten 3ears spent in the 
Counties of Albany and Columbia. 

The rigors of winter, can only be said to commence about the 20th of December,^ 
and to end with, l-^tbruary, or by the lOlh March, at which time the ice usually 
breaks up in the HaJson. Uet'.\een April 15, and May 5, most of the migratory 
birds appear; and •the lilac opens its blossoms about the 12, to 30 March, with the 
appearance of the robin and blue-bird. The phebc-bird and chimney-swallow, ap. 



14 GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 



pear about the 15 of April ; the barn-swallow, martin, king-bird, eagle, kingfisher 
and lark, about the 15 to 25, with the opening of the flower-buds of the peach ; — 
those of the apple and pear, about the 25 to 30 of April. The usual range of the 
tliermometer, is between 64" and 70° to 72", in the middle of the day from the 10 of 
April, to the 15 of May. 90° is a high summer temperature, and never continues 
but for a few days in succession. Early wheat, is cut about the 12 July; and wheat 
and rye harvest completed about 15 August. Buckwheat, is cut in October ; and 
maize ripens from the middle of September to the 10 or 20 of October. Oats are 
cut about the middle of August ; and grass, from the 4 to tlie last of July, The 
seed for winter rye and wheat, is sown from the 20 August, to the last of Septem- 
ber : and the thermometer often indicates 90" in September. In September, 1810, 
it was 92" to 93" in the shade, at 2 P. M. for three days in succession. 

From the middle of March to the last of April, the weather is very variable ; the 
changes of temperature great and sudden, though genei-ally rainy, with long storms 
of easterly winds. May, is a variable month also, and the first half usually wet ; 
with frequent changes of wind to about the 15th, when it becomes characterized 
by a milder aspect. Jime, assumes a summer character, about the 10th to 20th, 
with some thunder-showers, and a summer aspect of the clouds. In July, we have 
less southerly winds, and arc most subject to drowth, though but little injury is 
usually sustained from this source. August, is more showery, with the greatest 
uniformity of temperatures of any month in the year ; when the influences of the 
cloud-cap't summits of the Catsberg or Catskill, become splendidly conspicuous, in 
sending frequent thunder-showers over the surrounding country — and thus diffu- 
sing heallh and plenty to millions. 

To about the 15 or 20, September is much like August ; assuming a different 
character however^ with the equinoctial storm, which we usually have. But the 
latter lialf is mild, and very pleasant. October, is a pleasant montli, and the best 
in the year for travelling, if we except June, which some prefer. Early frosts, suf- 
ficient to desti'oy the tender garden vegetables, occur about the 26 September, 
though corn ripens till tlie middle of October. The foliage of the forest trees suf- 
fers by the early frosts, though not generally killed before the 15 to 25th of Octo- 
ber ; and early flurries of snow commence about the same time. December, is usu- 
sually cold and showery, with frequent and long storms from the E. and N. east, 
attended with rain, sleet, hail and snow, to complete the catalogue of early winter ; 
though sleighs are little used till about Christmas, which brings us to the season 
of good-natured and mutual gratulation, domestic plentv and tire-side joys ! The 
Indian-SuniTTicr, a peculiar and elegant feature oi' an American autumn, in connec- 
tion with the splendid and rich variety of tint assumed by the forest foliage at that 
season, commences, usualh^ about the last of Octobei", and extends into December 
with occasional interruptions by eastern storms. 

But it is a common and correct obseiwation, tlixit the temperatures and the wea- 
ther are more variable, and the seasons not so clearly defined ajj formerly. This 
may probably be owing to opening the country by removal of the wood, allowing a 
greater circulation, and extending the influence of the winds. A genei-al modifica- 
tion, favorable to our agi'icultural interests, has therefore taken place within the 
last 10 or 15 years. And though ancient people regret that we have less sleigh- 
ing ill winter than formerly, yet men of observation agree in opinion that the in- 
creased fertility of their lands, is more than a compensation. And tliis ameliora- 
tion muiit progress wah the extension of cultivation; and will be accelerated, not 
inconsiderably, by improved agriculiiu-e. 

Inland Navigation, axd Casals. The details under this article, are neccssarilj 
anticipated in a considerable degree, by those of the preceding articles. And as 
the rivers are minutely described under their respective names in the Gazetteer, 
a view of the inlaiui navigation is exliibitcd m those descriptions. 

It m:.y be said, however, that no portion of the United Stales enjoj's such facili- 
ties for inland navigation, as the State of New- York ; combining, in the considera- 
tion, the objects and the means of intercourse. The Hudson, opens a good sloop 
navigation fur vessels of 100 tons to Alban3\ And, passing the ciUTying place to 
Schenectady 15 nules, the Mohawk aflbrds a boat navigation, with the aid Of 2 
short canals, tliat at the Little Falls, and nt Rome, to Wood creek; thus extending 
the navigation through Oneida Lake and Oswego river, to Luke Ontario, with the 
exception of 2 other short portages in Oswego river ; a distance of 203 miles from 
Schenectady ; 218 from Albany, with but 15 miles, laud carriage ; imd 393 miles 



GENERAT. VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 15 



fivm New-York. The connection of the vai'ious ^ikes and streams, noticed under Os- 
'WEGO RiYER, extend many facilities of inland intercourse to the surroundins;' popula- 
tion. Arks and boats descend the waters that this state furnishes to the Delaware, 
Susquehanna, and through the Allegan}- and 0?iio, to Missisippi and New-Orleans. 
The communication by Lake Erie, Niagara river, and the Ontario, wiih the St. 
Lawrence, is very important to the interests of a great share of our western popu- 
lation ; — including the navigation of many streams that enter those waters. The 
Huds<m, brings a vast supply of rafts from Fort Edward ; and of lumber whicli is 
there made into rafts, from a great extent of counti-y above, on its own waters, and 
even from Lake George and some from Champlain. And the navigation of Lake 
Champlain, is of considerable and increasing importance ; — nor is the period very 
remote, when a canal will probably connect this lake with the navigation of the 
Hudson. 

The CAXAt, at Jlame, connecting the waters of the Mohawk and Lake Ontario, was 
completed in 1797. This canal is about 1 1-2 mile in length, with a lock at each 
end. It is fed by a lateral cut from the Mohawk, which enters the canal nearly a 
mile W. of the lock at that river. The lift, at the eastern lock, is 10 feet ; that at 
the western, 8 feet. Connected with this plan, there are 4 other locks on Wood 
creek, within 5 miles of Rome. ' Tliese are made by throwing dams across the 
sti'eam, raising the watei-, and opening the communication through locks. The 
first of these, lifts 4 feet ; the 2d, 6 feet ; the 3d, 7 feet ; and the 4th, 8 feet, mak- 
ing in all 25 feet ; or 33 feet to the level of tlie c; naL The 4th above mentioned, 
is near the mouth of Canada creek, from whence it was sujiposed there would be a 
sufficient depth of water. Butteaus, carrying from 3 to 15 tons, and drawing 2 feet 
water, pass the canal at all times ; but in tjmcs of sevei-e drowth, experience some 
difficulty below, both in the, IMohawk and "Wood creek. A well informed Corres- 
pondent, computes the number of boats that annually pass these locks, at 300 ; and 
that they carry 1500 tons of goods, produce, &c. The canal at the Little-Falls of 
the Mohawk, completed in 1795, has several locks, and extends the navigation by 
a fall of 42 feet, within one mile. f 

Under this head ■may be introduced the expense of transportation, from New- 
York to Oswego. From New-York to AUiany, bulky articles ])ay about 40 cents 
per hundred weight ; heavy, from 10 to 20 cents — say common freight, to average 
25 to 30 cents per Inmdred. From Albany to Schenectady, 16 cents. From Sclie- 
nectady to Utica, 75 cents ; and from I'tica to Oswego, % 1.25 per hundred, in- 
eluding lockage, portage-money, &c. — making in a!!, §2-35 to §2.40 cents per 
hundred weight through tliis whole distance. 

The Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, has been incorporated by this 
state, for tlie purpose of improving the navigation of the western waters. 

But, the project of a Great Western Canal, to connect Lake- Erie and the Hud- 
son by a boat navigation, is now a principal topic in this state. Commissioners 
have examined the countrj-, and have reported in favor of the project, but on a plan 
which, to my apprehension, is generally impracticable. The object is certainly a 
desideratum of vast importance ; and the magnitude of the undertaking is war- 
ranted by the ample means at our disposal. But the object is, or ought to be, a 
national one ; and Congress will probably be induced to lend efficient aid whenever 
its practicability shall be satisfactorily demonstrated to that body. 

Bats Axn Islakds. The Bays, properly so called, belonging to this state, are but 
fcvf in number, exclusive of those of Long-Island, which are very numerous. For 
UimgrTg bay, the largest, and its several ramifications, see Jefferson County. This 
opens from the E. end. of Lake Ontario, and Gi-eat and Little Sodus, and Gerimde' 
S'ut* or Teovonto, JBraddock's and some still smaller open from that Lake on the S. 
shore. Avfer, or Iroyi-bay, is formed by point au-fer ; as is Cumberland-bay^ by 
Cumberland-head, on Lake Champlain ; besieles these Peni-bay, jSl\ W. bay, and W. 
bay, are also on the W. shore of that Lake ; as is S. bay at its southern extremity, 

* The Indian name of this Bay, is Teuronto ; -which stg-nijies in the dialect of the 
Onondagas, almost hike : aiid these peopU still persist in that name, a much better one 
than Genuidcgut. The French Presque, _/<;(• almost, or Presqu'isle, for almost island, 
is universally received in Geography as a proper and designative name for a peninsula 
Jilmost insulated. And Teoranto, for almost lake, is equally entitled to notice, though 
it some from tlie nnpolished Indigenes of our ivestern ivoods. 



16 GENERAL VIEW OF IVEW-YORK. 

And there is a JV. W. bay also, on the W. shore of I^ake Geor!:;-e. There are some 
mere expansions of the waters of the Hudson, known to sailors by the names of 
Tappan, Haverstrn-w and J^eiv-lVindsor baifs. 

The Islands of this state, are numerotis, and form an important feature of oxir 
Geography. Among those, J^'asscni, or J.on^-lslund, claims tlie first place. To the 
possession of this, are v/e indebted for more than 100 miles of our sea-coast, many 
excellent harbors, and important facilities of trade and con-uncrce. This Island is 
much indented with bays, some of which are very lar^-e. The principal of these on 
the S. side are Jamaica, Rockaivaij, Parsonage, Jerusdlum, and Shinecoitsfh bays ; and 
near the E. end, Gardiner^ s, a very lari^e bay, embracing several islands, the wes- 
tern extremity opens into Great Peconick hay ; — on the N. side, or next the Sound, 
Dro-umed Jifeadoiv bay, Great Bay, Oyster, JVorth-Hempstead buy. Coin bay, Little J\ech 
bay. Flushing- bay, and Clinton bay, which forms Clinton harbor. Nor must tlie 
Wallaboght be omitted. The principal idavds, belonging' to Long-Island, in the 
same order, are, Barren, Jamaica, ffog, /iockavjuy, and S-iva7i islands, on the S. side ; 
Gardiner'* and Plumb, at the E. end ; SiieUcr Inland, Great Horfiieck, Liiile^Hogiirck 
and RobirCs islands, in Gardiner's and Pecnnick buys. In addition to these buys and isl- 
ands, the heads, points, coves, ponds, inlets, Sec. are almost innumerable. But Governor^, 
Bedlov's Ellis's, and some other islands in the bay of J\'cr.'-York, must no.t be omit- 
ted. J^Tanhattan, ox York Island, on which stands New-York city ; and Statcn- isl- 
and, are of the next importance. The Hudson, has mar.y islands, very rich and ier- 
tile, though principally small, and of little geogrnphical importance. Those situ- 
ated about the mouths of the Mohawk, are known to history, some fortifications 
having been erected there during the American war. And mortt people who have 
navigated the Hudson, are acquainted with the ducking celebrity of Pollopeli's Isl- 
and, at the northern entrance into the lliy:hlands. The islands of.the Mohawk, and, 
the otlier rivers, though numeroxis, arc too small and inc(.nsidery-ble fn- general no- 
tice. But many of these are important appendages to farms, and to the interests 
6i agriculture.' Those near Albany iurnish vast supplies of Ju^airiant vegetables 
for that market. ^ ' 

At the E. end, and at the outlet of Lake Ontario, ai"6 some islands ^vhich belong 
to this state. These are Stoney, Grenadier, Fox, Gruntlislc, Carlton, and some others 
of less note, beside the multitudinous group called the thousand islands, situated 
20 to 35 miles down the St. I,awrence, the largest p:u-t of which are E. of the chan- 
nel of that river. There are also many otliers in the St. Lawrence, little knov n ex- . 
cept to boatmen, though some of them arc cultivated with success. And Grand, 
Stra-zcben-y, and Goat Islaiids, in Niagara rive V» lie within this state. In Lake Cham- 
plain, Crab, Valcoiir, and Scfnqiler's islands, are the jsrincil^al of those belonging- to 
this state. L.ake George, has a multitude of small islands ; but Long-Island, is of 
course the largest ; and Diamond island, h.is some celebrity, as being- tlie resort of 
parties of pleasure from Caldwell, though little more than a banvn I'ock, as are 
the most of those in Lake (icorge. The gi-oup of little isles at the Narrows, de- 
serve notice only as a curiosity ; and as such they merit a distinguished rank. 

Roads, TxTKxniiEjE, and Eridoes. 1 know not in what form to present the de- 
ta,ils of this article. The roads of this state, pm-ticuiarly those in the new part^, 
;ire certainly very good, and conveniently disposed ; and when we take into view 
the recent settlement of a hu'ge extent of country, where they have been construct, 
ed, I can but believe they would b'irsa- a comparison with those of any other portion 
of the Tnitcd States. And no state has- been more liberal in making appropriations 
of public funds, for the purpose of extending good roads into every section of the 
state. Corporate bodies have also been multiplied for these purposes, till their 
nominal stock amounts to 8,067,000 dollars, in the charters for Turnpikes and Toll 
Bridges alone. A list of these, witli the resju'ctive leng-ths of road, ar.d noniijial 
stock, would fill several jiages. Nor could it be likely to afibi-d any other than un- 
satisfactory information, such is the aukward confusion of names in the, several .. 
charters. Another and important objection to tliis mode, arises from the defective 
construction of some of these roads : tiiough I confess, and with jdcasure, that many 
of them are well laid and wrought. a\nd, as many of them are not yet completed 
through the Vvhole extent of their contemplated distances,. Jinother objection arises 
from the difficulty of ascertaining the respective distances of finished and unfi- 
nished road. '" 

The Chartclfs for Toll-iJrldges, ^36 in mimber) have created nominal stock 1o the 
amount of % 509.000 ; and tlie»a and tlie Turnpike companies, 135 in number, are 



G]^>yER4VL yWAV Oi' X^^V-VORK. 17 



probably authorised to erect rboiit 45.) toM-fa'tes: Ti:\\. they have opened, and arc 
opening- al)ovit 4500 miles of Koad! The principal Turnpikes and gi'cat leadinfj 
roads, are shown by rlotted lines on the Map ; and a yLiicral view of them is noti- 
ced in the p^cojp-aphical desctlf^tionS". 

The central position of Albany, as a place ';f t-; Jc, of commerce, of travel, and 
rf g-encral intercourse, renders it of coti!sc, tlic gve'iX. point of conceiitralion for all 
!hc threat roads of this reo'ion. A bare emiineration of those which connect Alba- 
ny wi'h the surrounding countries, would f 11 sever;.! p.-tc'es. But tl^e g-reat chain of 
turnpikes that extend from tlie K. line of the state, nef.r tl^e Villae:e of New-L>3l>a- 
non, throug'h Albany, Sclicnectrdy, Utica, Geneva, Cariar.daii^iia and Batavia, to Buf- 
falo, must nc^t be omitted; a di'ninvce wiiich sutP.cicntly bespeaks the magn tude nf 
the object — being 324 miles. Vrom tliis gi-and avcni;e, turrpikes and country roads 
traverse the western countn- in cvciy direction. And n-liile the people have licen 
prog-ressively learninjc that too many turnpike companies were formed, they have 
riuch improved the country roads, by copyinj;^ (he tA'.rnpike manner of construc- 
tion. And if evils or inconven'ences have been fo''.nd iji Iht speculating e?ctent of 
the turnpike system, that systeni has alt;o done much }^-«od ; and the evilii bid fair 
to work their own remedy, in this case, thouiiii tlicy mr;y not end here. TJie lai^;- 
for speculation that blew up the tiu-npike buLbie, c.ui bur^: it, is now traiisltrred 
to manufactures. - •: - 

From the best information ibat I can oljiJai:\ ;.;";< v iurt h cnquiiy and rr s:;.i' "h. 
I suippose we liave uow opened tbi' trrvel, abimt 16 I0.I68U miles of turnpike :o;.d ! 
A vasWextcnt — and some part of thrs ^sys'tem has proved of proportionate impor- 
tance to the interests of the citizens, afld tlie couiiiuunty at large. 

The Kitinor.s tjiat have been erected within 10 years, and those too nf very con- 
siderable magnitude, are almost iniiumvrab'i — ami of these, about 35 are authori- 
sed to collect T(ill. l?iit there are nuiuy olher bridges on the country roads, tliat 
do great honor to tlie public spirit of tin- irj\ai>itai!ts. 

The first bridge that crosses t!:e Hudson, is at W;:tcrford; the next at Fort- 
Miller, both tpll bridges. A toll bridge across tb.e Mohawk, one mile below the 
Cohocs, was completed im \795, at the expen.'?e of 12,000 dollars. It is 1100 feet 
long, 24 wide, resting on 13 stone plliars. i-Yoru liere to 8e!ienectady is one other 
toll bridg-e, across the'MohaM"k!F;^«n<l.at Schenectady, one of the best toll bridges 
in thq.i;tate. At Utica, there is a very good bridge across the Moliinvk, and some 
othc.s bclov/. The Cayuga bridge vvaSd' s'.royed by the ice in 1807, and is not re- 
built. It cost 20,0(i0 dollars, and was one rnik; in length. In every direction, where 
loads cross the numerous rivers and streams, bridges have been erected; and the 
plan of btiildiiig is, in general, pretty good- Though 1 i.p|ireiiend the vac of more 
stone and iron would i)e f;>und more prolitable to those who pay the expenses, al- 
though it would considerably augment tlie first cost. In tills particular, it would 
be well to copy tlie Pennsylvanians, iu more instances. 

Soil Axn Aghicultipe. A dftep, warm soil, rather dry than wet, afTords the 
best rewards, in generhl, to good husbandry: bccanse, this constitutes the best 
medium soil foi- g-rain or gi'ass, and allows a change or rotation of crop.?; which if 
■Well adapted, enrich rather than impoverish the soil. Soil, in relation to land, or 
earth, constitutes the superstratum, of various tiepthsand qualities. It is that por- 
tion of the surface usually penetrated by the root.o of agTicultura! and other plants, 
and which affords to these their principal uourishmciit. But the roots of i'orcst 
trees, though they derive their principal nourishment also, from the soil, often and 
indeed pretty generally, send some portion of their roots thror.glt this to the sub- 
stratum on which, it rests. .The soil is of a much looser texciu-e ; and has" various 
proportions of admixture v.-itn veget..I>le remains : "in new countri^js and une:i- 
jiausted sojls,.a.very large^'and not unfrcqucntiy an undue lurijurtio'i). , AVlun this 
is the case, it constitutes a thitk coat of vegetable imAd, witli a small projiortion 
of earth, and is called b/ack jintck by the farmer.? in thid couiitiv; and this soil, c- 
veii with good husbandry, fails and Ix-comes exluu'.stcd tiftcr fion> 15 to 20 or oti 
vears ; nor 9an good husbaiidr}-, with iiRinures, and all th^^ arts of agricuittive, u- 
gain reclaim or restoia; it': Tlie fault is BOjt in the s6il,_^uui^iRi tlie management of 
the farmer; btit ej^ists in the substratouin on which' tlVe soil rests, v/hich is generaJ- 
ly a hard, compacted earth, denominattd /Mrd-Jjun, bythe farmers. Tliis stratum 
has no vegetable mixuu-e; iS cold and usually st^iy.. Its compactness and unpoi-o- 
sitj-, prevents a due supply ol iiioisturc tO the burl'ucej wliilt its cc;idui.i;S retards 



IS GENERAL VIEW OF NEW- YORK. 

•the process of evaporation, and of putrefaction of decaying- substances. Hence the 
accumulation on its surface, in the form of semi-putrified vegetables, instead of 
eaiyth, to which they would have been reduced in a much less time, had they lain 
on a moist and warm surface. Such is the origin of black muck, and such the com- 
parative value of this description of land. Its substratum is always of a cold na- 
ture, and supplies moisture only in scanty veins. A gravelly porous substratum, 
5s usually waimer and moist. Its soil, in most countries, has' an admixture of eartli 
of veg-ctable orip'in, with sand or gravel, of a darkened hue, but not a dark black — 
ilike muck, that has deceived thovtsands in the choice of land. 

The preceding- articles, in which are noticed very minutely, the face of the coun- 
try, its mountains, rivers, lakes, creeks, &.C., must have exhibited such features of 
general outline, that little need be detailed of the soil in particular parts. The 
AV. end of Long Island, is rich, fertile, and in a high state of cultivation; the ea?- 
lern part, has a large proportion of sandy, barren plains. Below the Highlands, 
the soil is principally dry and warm — a gravelly or sandy substratum, or granitic 
Tock. It may be called a good medium soil in general. N. of the Highlands to the 
IM ohawk, the soil is dry and wai-m ; either a gravelly or sandy loam in geneval — 
also a medium soil. But the rocks are, on the eastern border of the state, prin- 
cipally shistic ; and a shistic gravel, forms much of the soil, which is warm and 
productive, though not deep. The alluvial flats of Colimibia, and some part of 
jlenssclaer Counties, are very extensive and rich : and the vallies, presenting a warm 
g-ravelly soil, are also extensive, and furnish much good medium soil. AV. of Alba- 
ny, are extensive sandy plains, interspersed with marshes, and rather cold and wet 
till we approach the Helderberg hills, This plain, is generally underlaid by clay; 
but the Helderberg hills are calcareous, and present a better soil, though broken 
and much divei'silied. 

The Egricuitural products of this division of the whole territory of the state, 
consist of all the vai-ious productipns of this country. The W. part of Long Isl- 
and, and the counties of Westchester and Dutchess, ai'e mider very good cultiva- 
tion. Of some part of Columbia, we must make an ex-ception. But where the land 
is divided into small freeholds, possessed in fee by the cultivators, a spirit of im- 
provement has become very conspicuous within a few 3'ears. Dutchess, is one of 
the best farming counties in the state ; and probably derives a greater amount of 
annual receipts from agriculture, than any other county. The inlrodaction of gyp- 
sum as a raanurCj has marked a new era in tlie agriculture and rural economy of 
this region. By this mean, and consequent attention and improvements, the pro- 
ducts of the 2d or 3d quality of land have been neai-ly doubled within the last 10 
3 ears ; and land of this description has risen in value 20 to 30 and 40 per cent. 
Farriiers have fovmd a new climate ; and weeds and insects before so trouble- 
some, have yielded to manure, a rotation of crops, and improved husbandry in eve- 
ry department. But the gloi-y of this change, exists with the practical farmer ; 
and instead of h.iving had the new climate sent him, by a " ch.ange of winds, and 
a new direction given to the clouds," he has been aiding in the foi-mation of a local 
climate ; — while farming is every year becoming more respectable as an occupation. 

Inthe progi-ess of tliese improvements, which have in some degree pervaded the 
whole state, the AV. side of the Hudson, is considerably behind -Qie eastern, in the 
region of which I am now particularly speaking. A summary view of our ExronTs, 
will better shew the extent and variety of our agricultural products, than detailed 
enumerations under this article. The southern part of Washington County, has a 
"warm, gi-avelly medium soil, and abundant crops. Saratoga, has much good, but 
more waste land : Its general character is more sandy; and like that of Albau)' 
county, rests on cla} . j^.roimd Lake Champlain, there is a large extent of clayey 
soil, extenduig to the hills that skirt tlie Peru mountains. Much of this country 
is comparatively new ; but its inliabitants are actively engaged in the agricultural 
spirit of the soutliem counties. With the exception of its alluvial flats, which are 
4>xtensive and rich, the soil of the country of tiie Mohawk, may be gcnerallj' de- 
nominated a stifl"loani, till we go W. of the Catsberg hills, (or Catskill,) at the 
Little Falls. Here it assumes a new character, and evidently belongs to the vast 
4levated plain of the western region, occupied by the small lakes. This distinc- 
tion is made, because the mountainous district of the western region, requii-es a 
separate description and character. 'J'he soil of this mountainous tract, is very 
niuch diversified. Tlio hills rock}- atul precipitous ; tlie vallies deep and narrow, 
40J 5];acJous and rich. This tract furnislies con;;idcrable bluek muck, ©r deep ^»;- 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 19 

jfetable mold, in the vallies. Its agriculture is respectable, as are its products ; for 
the settlements are principally of recent date. The great western reg-ion, which 
I have denominated the elevated plain, is t©o extensive, and has too great diversi- 
ties for one general character of soil. But it is not a topography of soil that I am 
attempting in these remarks ; and a general observation may be correct, though it 
have exceptions. A very large proportion of the soil of this country may be deno- 
minated a rich mold, variously intermixed with cai'th of different kinds. And much 
of it is a good medium soil, equally well adapted for grain and grass. The allu- 
Tial flats are extensive, in general ; and in no part more so than on the Genesee 
river. No part of the state is making more rapid advances in agricultural im- 
provements than this western region ; nd the extent and variety of the product* 
of agriculture, evince to the world the abundant success that attends the efforts of 
its rapidly increasing population. 

The soil of the level countr)"^ E.of Lake Ontario, and along the St. Lawrence, is a 
warm sandy loam ; with a large proportion of the first rate of medium for agricul- 
ture. The British writers on national resources, attach a great degree of importance 
to the numbers employed in agriculture; while the superior and constantly improv- 
ing style of this branch of wealth, furnishes a ftivorile theme. In no country is agri- 
culture better understood, and in none more productive, than in England — and. 

i their horticulture or gardening, yields to none, if we except .some parts of Flanders 
and Lombardy. These writers very justly boast of the extent and variety of their 
agricultui-al products ; nor do they hesitjite to ascribe the immense wealth of the 
fixed country population, to the productions of the soil. By an exact enumeration, 
made by order of Parliament and completed y/ithin a few years, obliginglyfurnish- 

< ed me by a Correspondent from the official books, it appears that in England and 
Wales, there are 39,100,000 acres of cultivated lands, and 7,888,778 acres of un- 
cultivated. The same account gives tlie annual product of wheat, allowing 21' 
bushels to the acre, at 96,450,000 bushels; and in these countries, 2,800,000 per- 
sons are employed in agricultiu-e. The overstocked population, and tlie high price 
of land, though there be yet near 2,000,000 acres fit for cultivation, l3ing in com- 
mons, copses of wood and pleasure grounds, necessarily compel 1,843,35.5 persons 
to seek cmploymeiit as artisans. The cattle and farming stock, are valued at 
100,000,000 pounds sterling. Tlie number of freeholders, of the wealthy sort, 
40,000 families ; and of tlie poorer sort, 120,000 families; the aggregate population 
of which is 940,000. Nor do the British writers fail to ascribe niiich of theu- ag- 
ricultural wealth and national resources, to tlic improvements lately hitroduced 
ill the breeds and the management of cattle and sliecp. The intermixture of 
green crops wltii those of grain, the irrigation of meadow and pasture lands, and 
the successive substitution of various crops adapted to the nature of the soil, form 
a chief excellence of English husbandry; and imlicate the eminent superiority of 
this mode, when compared with perpetual succession. While some crops impo- 
verish, otlicrs actually enrich the soil ; and in adapting these witli nice discrimina- 
tion, consists a promment feature of good husbandry. A soil mav be exhausted for 
one crop, while abundantly nutritious and rich for anotlier; as plants have each a 
peculiar nutriment whicli they principally imbibe. Clover, potatoes, and some 
other crops, actually enrich and prepare the soil with nutriment for wheat — corn 
for fhix or hemp, with many other similar instances. 

The rotation of crops, introduced more generally inio*tke method of managing' 
farm lands in this cuuntiy witliin a few years, is so important that it marks a new 
era in our agriculture, of most propitious promise. But a radical error in our hus- 
bandry, still exists in the partial tillage ot the soil. In exhausted soils, where the 
vegetable remains are small, fertility is best ensured by abundant tillage, next to 
manures — though well chosen crops will aid much in restoring nutriment. Ground 
of this description should never remain a s\inuner wiiliout'sceding; and naked fal- 
lowing is of little service, if any. SJome plants imbibe a, brge portion of their 
nourishment from the atmosphere, and deposit more in the soil than they take from 
it. And these facts are important to be known in practical farming' New and 
improved varieties of grain ai-e easily obtained, by a careful selection of seed fi-om 
the most vigorous plants, and separate, propagation. ^'Jie same remark applies ta 
grass, fruit, and most or all of agricultural products. The diseases of these pro- 
<lucts dcmand'care, and call aloud for attention. Wheat, the national staple, is 
]n-oduced in viist luxuriance ; and the weeds and other green vegetable matter care- 
lessly gathered with it by tlic use of the cradle, ferment and heat m the mow, in- 



20 GENETJ.O. VIEW OF NEW-YORIC. 



juring- the gCTm or chit of th;^. seed, and tjius enL^f-nderin!^- diseuse, entailed on the 
future plant, while the seed is also injured for flour. The ancient man who still 
adheres to ancient customs, lets his wheat stand till udly ripe, carefully gathers 
it with the sickle, cures 1 be straw before he mov.s his grain, is seldom troubkd 
with smut, or what is ridk-d dead Hour; and the g-ood wife r-iaintains the ancient 
reputation of her house ibr excellent bi-ead, cakes and pastry. Under this head it 
-js proper to remai-k, tliat the exertions of t!ie Agricultural Society of this state, 
have been very beneficial, though its publications are too circumscribed in circula- 
tion for their merits, and the general good. 

VEnKTADtB AKTD Anixal Productio ?f s. The Botrny of this State, furnishes a 
very extensive theme — but treated scientifically and with the minuteness due to 
the subject, would fill a small volume. After attending to the preceding details, 
the vast variety of our vegetable productions may be well conceived. 

Tlie native forest trees, grow to a great deg-rce of luxuriance, and we have them 
5n profuse abundance and variety. With the exception of some extensive prairies, 
or unwoodcd plains, in tlie western i-egion, principally in the vicinity of Buftalo, the 
whole continental territory was originally a vast ibrest. And the uncultivated 
parts, may still be regai'ded as forests, variously chequered with fields, farms, and 
human habitations ; — settlements, villages, towns, cities. 

The mountain region, is of course characterised by the gre \ter proportion of 
evergreens ; and the Peiuvian mountains, and theii- Western borders, down to the 
valley of Ontario and St. Lawrence, have much the largest proportion of these. 

The region of the western climate, is principally wooded with deciduous trees, 
and of the loftiest gro\vth. Those of the eastern or atlantic climiite, are decidu- 
ous, in general, but of a less lofty growth. 

The most common forest trees, are oak, maple, beech, walnut, butternut, ches- 
nut, birch, tilla or bass-wood, pophu-, cherry, sycamore or button-wood, ash, elm, 
«5assafr:.s, hornbeam, sumach, elder, pine, spruce, larch, fir, hemlock, ced.ar, and 
in some parts, locust laurel, mulberry, black-walnut, cucumber-tree, crab-apple, 
:ind common thorn, of many vai-ieties. 

And of several of these trees, there are many varieties : of the oak, about 20; 
pine, 8 ; of the walnut, 7 or 8; The general characteristics of these trees, are 
>vell known ; and there are btit few of our fai-mers who are unable to assign to each 
5t8 common choice of soil and position. 

The state of New-Yoik is essentiall)' agricultural — and the splendid «uccess that 
«rowns the labors of agricultui'e, together with our superior facilities of trade, do- 
jnestic and foreign, constitute the basis of its commercial character — ^unrivalled in 
America. And all these ciicurtistiiivces conspire to exte);^d the variety and vast 
amount of our surplus products. ' '' . ' 

Wheat, seems the first object of wir Farmers, and that article is cultivated with 
great success ; as, is r}.e, iuaize, oats, flax, hemp, pease", beans, &c. — Most of the 
tlomestic gr;isses adapied'to ouv country au^ clunate, are cultivated with success ; 
und our territory iurnishes a.consideytible.yui'iety of native grasses, ol' considerable 
value in domestic economy. ■■*.'■,' 

Of fruits, we have a gieat varl^tj-. !N<y country produces, better, or more abun- 
d:ait crops of apples ; and oui- cidef,"^ to, be of the best qu.aiitj-, requires only the 
best management. The .southei'n p.'ii't, is the best for peaches; and they succeed 
very well in the region fifthe eastern or AtlanticcUmHie,.and in ihe southern parts 
of 'i-he western ; but titt-}- canihh]-dly be said" 'to belong to the northern climate, 
though they are raised in some pans." The pear, like vJie' apple, is a hardy fruit 
tree, and flourishes in'evtery paj-t,'as 'do also the phaipb, some kinds of the cherry, 
and many smaller fruit-beaiing sni'ubs aijd flt^eeji.', ■ ^ ' if' 

Ot garden truits, plauts, root*, Stc.^ that 'tiourish'^wnk 'tis, ouj* territorj^ furnislies 
a. numei-ous catalogue — ])ro^;fbly e(]jttal to any state*in the union. There are some 
li'.cts, intimately connected with the general interests ol the cumnumity, tliat de- 
mand more strict an(t,^(,'neral uttcjition: To every v;.nety ot j^iants, thei'e belong 
certain characteristic distinctions'; ahd each has its peculiar constitution and tem- 
perament, requu'ing ci.i'e in tlie.jcultivator. A favorite truit tree, from a soil and 
situation well adapted, yields truit of that degree of excellence, only in a conge- 
nial soil. The NeM'tov, n pippin, aud the Spitzeuberg, deservedly esteemed, h.we 
most grievously disappointed many cultivators ; and, transplanted to spois badly 
ehosen, have failed to j;roducc apples Rke the orig-inal stock. That kind -of soil de- 
ijommattd a meditim, weU udAptc«l to grain or grass,' is generally the best for fruit — 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 21 

and a wet, cold soil, invariably deg-encratcs choice fruit, in flavor and excellence. 
The same remarks applj'in some degree, to all the products of ai^riculture, thoug'h 
less perceptible ; Grain and grass, are nutritious and pleasant, on a congenial soil, 
and bad in exact proportion to tlieir remove from this. 

The Domestic Zcologt of tliis State, presents a lonaf catalogue of such domes- 
tic rnimuls as Iiave been found useful, in almost all parts of the world, situated in 
similar latitudes. The Horse, has been celebrated in all ag\3s, as one of the noblest 
of animals domesticated bj- the care of m;ji. The best breeds of this animal, have 
been sous^lit in all climes ; and those which we have, are derived from mixtures of 
tlood and crosses of breeds, from the four quarters of the globe. And the varie- 
ties are now become ahnost innumerable, even in our own country. Of the bovine 
or CW' kind, our breeds arc numerous, :ind consideralil}' improved within a fcv/ 
years. This has been occasioned by tlie introduction of select breeds from abroad, 
and by better keepaig and management. Though, in the vicinage of cities and larg-e 
towns, it is still too common a practice to select the best calves for the butchers* 
stalls, as it is of lambs also. The introduction of the ^Merino, and other approved 
breeds of S/ieep, from Europe, marks an important era in the agricultiU'al history 
of this country. The high prices at which these have been bought b^v farmers, and 
distributed over the country, serves as an important stimulus to improvement and 
agricultural care an.d industry, in the man,".gement of firms and domestic stock. 

Fine and good wool, can onh' be obtained in succession from any breed of sheep, 
by good husbandry, careful management, and full feeding, wliicli perpetuates a ^i- 
gorous and healthy succession. And independent of the intrinsic superiority of 
these foreign breeds, which must be acknowledged In many instances, no i)lan could 
be so efi'ectual to seciirc the acquisition, as the enormous though now declining 
prices at which they have been introduced. AVhilc, thcreibrc, the best Iambs shall 
136 reserved by the farmers for their select lldcks, well fed, shell ered from storms, 
and carefvdly managed, our breeds will continue to improve — but that good hus- 
bandry furnishes good wool ; and bad, a progressive dtt'preciation of quality, from 
whatever stock, will only be generally lexirned from general experience. Consider- 
able attention lias also been paid to our breeds of stuiiie ; and this is the more im- 
portant, as the products of this animal fiu'nish large items in the amount of our do- 
mestic exports. 

Of other' domestic animals, we possess all that .are useful and convenient, am.ong' 
those common to ouv climate. The following computations of the numbers of she^'p, 
iiiiut-cattle, horses and swine, are founded on the details of the census, and the iu- 
Ibrn.atiGn of well inlbrmed Correspondents. In some Counties, these items were 
omitted in the census. To sujjply this deficiency, I have a'pplied to Correspondent* 
in those Counties for estimates, according to the best intbrmation : and the ratio, 
thus obtained, fulls a small fraction short of 1.5 sheep to each person in the aggre- 
gate. This gives l,41u,044, as the whole number of sheep in the siate. The neut- 
ciiiile, according to the same authorities, may be computed at 863,298 ; the horses, 
527,570 ; giving the enormous aggregate of 2,810,912 of these vaUiable domestic 
aninii'ls. The American Statist, die mdefatigable Biodget, computes the wiiole 
number of neat cattle in the United States in iSu9, at3,(56U,O00 ; horses, 1,400,000. 
The enumeration of s-ivi7ie in this state, was wiioily omitted by the census ; but an 
inspection of oiu- list of exports, will sliow the importance ot the products of tliis 
anin:al. Pork, hams, and lard, are consumed to a great amount among tlie farmers, 
Avlicre less beef and mutton are eaten tlian in towns and cities. We may venture tu 
compute the number oi' fattened s-wine, slain annualiy, at 140,000 ; and of beaves 
slain here, or driven to market, at 22u,O00. 

Orignally, our country was a vast forest ; and in passing from the domestic zool- 
ogy to an enumeration of the Wild Aivimaj-s, the Mammoth first excites notice. — 
Tills animal seems to have been a species of the Elephant, of enormous size, now 
extinct. In the summer of 1801, many of the fossil bones of this monster, were 
discovered ui the earth in the counties of Ulster and Orange, and removed to New- 
York. They are now in the possession of the ingenious Mr. Feale, tiie proprietor 
of the Philadelphia Museum ; who has succeeded in obtaining the several parts, so 
as to form an almost entire skeleton. Its weight, is about 1000 potmds. The 
height of this skeleton, over the slioulders, 11 feet ; the hip, 9. Length from the 
chin, to the rump, 15 feet ; from the point of the tusks to the end of the tail, 31 
feet, foUov/ing the exterior curve : in a. straight line, 17 feet 6 inches. Length of 
the under ^w, 2 feet 10 inches, which' weighs 624 pounds : Of the tusks, 10 feet 7 

4 



22 GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 

inches. A single tooth weighs 4 lb. 10 ounces. The moose, was a native of our 
northern forests ; and we have some reasons for supposing the bison also occasion- 
ally visited these regions. The deer, bear, -I'olf, and fox, still remain ; and the so- 
cial and industrious beaver, has left many vestiges of his ingenuity and skill, though 
now princi]ial!y driven from our territory. I'he otter, loolverene, cougar, catamoinit, 
■wild-cat, racoon, martin, are but rarely met with, and then only in the northern 
mountains. The lueaeel, mink, muskrat, ivoodchuck, hare or rabbit, of two kinds, 
stiink, and many varieties of the squirrel and mouse, are common to most parts of 
the country, ^^herc suitable local residences can be found. 

The E. end of Long-Island, is still abundantly supplied with deer. And the wild 
tracts oi' the mountain region, and in the western comitry, still aflbrd deer and bear 
in considerable profusion. 

Of Fisii, we have a numerous list. A bare enumeration of names, would be equal- 
ly useless and uninteresting. The Salmon, no longer visits the Hudson ; and the 
period seems proba])ly not remote, when he will cease to visit even Connecticut 
river, which yet furnishes a scanty supply. But our western waters supply the sal- 
mon of the hikes, in great abundance : while the northern abound with the salmon- 
trout, and trout, the next best for the pan, to tlie atlantic salmon. Vast shoals of 
fihad and herring annually visit the Hudson, and constitute the basis of its princi- 
pal fisheries. The sturgeon, may be said to abound, and is no where better than in 
tliis river. Bass, pike, and a considerable variety of others, visit Albany ; but nei- 
ther the Hudson or Mohawk, can be called good for fish. In the Oneida lake, is 
tlse best fishing ground, of any of our western small lakes, if accounts be correct. 
The muscanunge, blackfish, the pike or pickerel, of the western lakes, are much 
esteemed ; and the cat-fish, makes excellent eating when skilfully drest. 

In the southern ]rart, the variety of fish is very great, having the stores of the 
atlantic : And no fish-market in the world is better furnished than that of New- 
York. The Oysters, have a high reputation. 

TJie number of Birds, which either visit our extended and diversified territory, 
or reside with us, is surprisingly great. Long-Island alone, boasts a catalogue of 
150 species, beside niany others that spend but a short time tliere. Of migratory 
birds, that spend the summer in the western region, we have a great numlier. And 
of these, I have seen a large proportion of the whole, in the State of Virginia, du- 
rin.f Winter. The Virginia nightingale, the most elegant warbler of an American 
forest, and which spends a few weeks of summer in the western part of this state, 
has often enraptured my fancy on the borders of rivers and creeks in the western 
part of Virginia, during tlie months of January, February, and till about April, 
when they principally disappear. In our woods, they breed ih the tops of the lofti- 
est trees," are seldom seen, and are called the red-bird, or ivild-red-bird. They are 
the loxia cardinalls, of Bartrara. 

Birds of passage, and migratory birds, are vague designations. All are birds of 
passao-e in some "degree, except the few whose cold blood stagnates with cold wea- 
ther, and they seek a warmer habitation in the water, in caverns of rocks, or Imd- 
dle top-ether "in the hollows of trees, remaining torpid and without circulation till 
revivified by returning warmth ; anti some few others cf so liardy a teniper;iment 
that thev endure the rigors of all climes. The wild-pigeon tliat leaves tliis coun- 
try in autumn, winters at present, in the western part of Virginia and the region 
of the Ohio — migrating, ;,s the weather becomes too cold for his temperament. — 
And in severe winters, few of them remain where they had before spent a mild 
one. In the winter of 1800-1801, I saw acres of ground so covered by tb.ese birds, 
jmnuMl the head branches of the Hockhocking, a northern branch of the Ohio, that 
the limbs of trees and bushes were unable to sustam the one half ef them. Tliis was 
from the 14th December to early in January, and durmg a long S. E. storm of rain, 
sleet, hail and snow, when they were unabie to fly but very little. Natural history, is 
not the design of this sketch ;'but the object of migration, is food and health ;— -and 
many of our\vild quadrupeds also obey these unpuises in some degree. The finny 
tribes of tlie deep, obey a native instinct, and constantly migrate in vast numbers, ut 
various seasons of the year. Our rivers are thus supplied with fish from the ocean ; 
some in quest of food, some to deposit spawn. To enumerate ali the birds that visit 
us, would fill more room than I can spare ; and the list would be of little use. 

Of SiiiiPKNTs, our number is but small ; and the rattle-snake is the only one which 
is poisonous ; its numbers, never very great, are constijitly diminishing. We have 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 23 



black snakes, water snakes, small striped snakes, green snakes of a few fingers' 
length in our meadows, and several others, perfectly inoffensive. But we have no 
garter-snakes, whoop-snakes, glass-snakes, joint-snakes, nor amphisbsena, or snakes 
with two heads. The amphisbsena, is a monstrous production, and no distmct 
species. 

Of Ixs-ECTs, we have a considerable number — but the wheat-insect, of late so in- 
jurious to wheat, seems on the decline. Vigorous plants, are not so liable to inju- 
ry from its attacks, as those of a feeble growth ; and improved culture may have 
lessened its ravages. Partial injuries are sustained from several species of cater- 
pillars ; and the "bot-fly, an insidious foe, maybe rendered innoxious by simply 




and healthy fruit-trees ; but attacks those of the bad husbandman, as a consequence 
of diseased trees. It is produced from a moth, which finds its residence in the 
loose bark, and rotten decaying branches, and is easily removed. There are some 
local flies, a£ those at Salt or Onondaga lake ; and the musquetoe and gnat, have a 
wide range. 

MixERAiOGT. It is a trite obsei-vation of general theory, that no countr);, rich 
h\ the products of agriculture, presents, at the same time, an opulent mineralogy. 
Our best mines, are found in the soil, and the facilities of extending its productions 
in amount of receipts. But nature has been bountiful in its supply of mineral stores 
also. 

Although little attention has been paid to this division of our Natural histoi-y, 
yet it supplies a very extensive theme. Iro7i ore, of all others the most Important 
to civil society, is found in vast abundance, and widely difli-jsed. There are about 
50 bloomeries in this state, principally supplied with ore from domestic mines, a» 
are the smelting- furnaces, 11 in number. See Manufactures. The ore of Lak« 
Champlain, has long held a high reputation. Our domestic Salt Springs, are an in- 
exhaustible nunc of great value. These supply about 700,000 bushels of salt per 
annum, and the manufacture may be extended to any desirable quantity. Their 
annual product is now about 200,000 dollars. The springs are confined to the coun- 
ties of Onond;;ga, Cayuga, Sent ca, Ontario, and Genesee ; with some small un wrought 
ones in Oneida. Gupsitm, is foimd in the same i-egion, of a quality equal to any of 
the imported. I have samples of the purest lamellated transparent kind, and of 
the common amorphous, from several places in the western region ; but tiie mines 
principally ^\roug!it, are hi Onondaga county. No doubt can be entertained of the 
abundance of this article in tiic western country ; and it is already afforded in vast 
fjuantities, at reduced prices. Liiiu'sione, a most invaluable thongh common mine- 
ral, is abimdantly distributed over the whole state. Marble, of a very superior 
equality, beautifully variegated, is found in Dutchess and Washington counties, be- 
side some other quarries of a coarser texture. Slate quarries, of a superior quali- 
ty for the roofing of houses, have been opened in Columbia, Dutchess, and Wash- 
ington counties ; and wrought to a great extent. Several other quarries have been 
opened on the shores of the Hudson below. Native Brimstone, is abundantly sup- 
plied by the Clifton Springs in Ontario county, and some others in different parts 
of the western country. C'oa/, has been found in small quantities. Lead, is found 
in tlie Highlands, in Columbia, Essex, Clinton, Herkimer, Ulster, and several other 
counties. Samples of this ore, in gangarts of pellucid quarts and blue shistus, 
have yielded 80 per cent of lead, v/ith a small portion of silver. Ores of Copper, 
have been found ; and of Zinck, we have some samples. Ores of Tin, have been 
found hi the Highlands, and in Essex and Clinton counties. Asbestos, is found in 
Dutchess and Rensselaer counties. The Shawangunk ridge produces a stone of a 
similar appearance with that from which the French Burr mill-stones are nianiifac- 
tured, and on ti-ial proves of an excellent quality. It is the arid quartz of Kirwan, 
and abounds on this mountain. The Esopus miU-stones, have long maintained a liigh 
reputation ; and I have seen some of them in the State of Ohio. .Marie, and I^eat, 
are foin^d in man}- tracts of the moimtainous country. Of Clays, we have a conside- 
rable variety, already discovered ; and indications lead us confidently to expect 
tlie discovery of more. I have some samples of a very fine white pipe clay, sent me 
from the Black river. Native Alum, is found in many caverns, of which we have a 
great number, some of which afford beautiful samples of Calcareoiis, and some of 
miiciom Spar. The vuiieties of Calcareous S.t«7ies and Cakarcous Sotis, m this state, 



24 GENERAL YIEW OF ISEW-YORK. 

■ ' ' ' ' ' ■ - — ^-«^ ' ■ ' ' "^^ 

are very numerous and important. That variety of limestone, denominated primi- 
tive bv Mineralo.e^ists, is the least common, except in the elevated tracts of the 
mountainous country. The Calcareous Carbonate denominated lapis sidllis, or swin- 
slove, appears to form a very general substratum of the recks of the gi-eat western 
region, and to be underlaid by a stratum of fine blue fetid clay, containing very 
similar constituent proportions of matter with the stone. Indeed, stones and rock* 
are but indurated eurths. Mountains present exterior masse.s ofvock — ajid rivers 
and water courses are very usually confined by rocky or stony beds and shores. — 
Eut do we know that the mountam base is rock througliout or that the adjacent 
plains rest on I'ocks, because we see them on the margin of rivers ? Induration 
idone, produces stones ; and this process requires the combined action of the ele- 
ments. But stones are constantly and progi*essively produced, under all the mo- 
difications of local and general action The immense operations of Nature, viewed 
by Man with microscopic eyes, are seen only in parts. To observe and study their 
several and respective coimections, properties and affinities, i-equii'es the exercise 
of seduloris and patient observation, guided by the deliberations of sober judgment, 
unbiassed by tlie errors of pre-conceived opinions. But, urJiapily for knowledge, 
man is the creature of habit, the victim of popular opinion, and averse to the labor 
of this course ; while the mgenulty of closet speculation, settles all these matters 
bv a single sentence of general theory ! This Swinstone, is a carbonate of calca- 
reous earth, variously impregnated with sulphur — and Gypsum, with which the 
same i-egini> abounds, is a sulphate of calcaivous earth. I'he fetid clay, is the ba- 
sis of formation for both these products, vuried in form and substance only accord- 
ing to locid circumstances. And the process of formation is constantly going on, 
iin<ler tlie iniallible superintendence of the gi-eat God of Nature. This Swinstone, 
and the fetid clay above mentioned, are met with in the deep cavities ofv/ater- 
courses, from Oneida to Niagai-a — a region of vast extent, arid which jields, by the 
bounties and blessings of Divine Providence, as great a mass of natural benefits in all 
their varied forms, as any other portion of United America. 

Cakartous petrifactions, are very common in the calcareous regions ; and masses 
of rocks and stones abound with muscular impressions, called also petrifactions of 
marine shells. Shells may be petrified, and wood, and even flesh, and I have seen 
them so, attached to shistic and calcareous i-ocks of recent formation — but nature 
lias a mode of producing these muscular impressions in stones, without the aid of 
imy model, or other guide than the general principles of her operations. Domcsjtic 
supplies of Silicions Sand, now fainish 10 large glass manufactories, which produce 
amrually about 5,81)0,000 feet Vi'indow glass ; and the Sand-Sto7ie ihr hearths, &c., 
is abundantly supplied from Rockland County. The Peruvian mormtains of Essex 
imd Clinton Counties, give indicatiints of several valuable miner:ds, beside ii-on, 
lead, and copper. Plumbago, is found here in vast abundance. And a considerable 
variety of Ochres, or Pigments, of various colours, are found here and in other parts 
of the' state. Mica, is found in many forms ; and some Mug-glass, and Magnesian 
Stones of this class, are of use in the arts. The Jlmianthus, of Patterson in Dutch- 
ess County, is the purest, and presents the best texture of any samples that 1 have 
seen from any part of the world. Some bcjiutiful specimens of Serpentirw, are found 
in New-Lebanon. Tlie BluckFlint, usedformoskets,isfoundin the western counties. 
And I mention it only as an incentive to research, that I foimd some beautiful sam- 
ples of fine nnirbk near the outlet of Seneca lake, in the summer of 1797. Some 
samples of Molt/bden, have been sent me from Essex County, and a great variety of 
, iron and copper pvrites. Emery, of a superior quality, is found in the vicinity of 
i Lake George ; and JMagnetic ores of iron, and some ores of '/duck, have been found 
in the northern moimtams. Ores containing small proportions of silver and o? anti- 
won», have been found, iieautiful Jiock Crt/siuls abound, and these diamonds are 
often collected and oilL-red ibr sale ! 

But a chief glory of our Mineralogy is found in the Mixehal Waters of tliis 
state, which, arc universally acknowledged to excel in richness and viu-iety. No 
Medicinal IVutars of the Eastern continent, possess equal claims to celebrity, 
with those of Saratoga ; and m no form is medical exhibition calcuLtted for such 
g-eneral efficacy, as in that of medicinal waters of known properties — ready fur- 
nished from the cheniicai laboratories and store-houses of nature. These springs 
are very numerous, and widely diffused over Saratoga cotmt)-. They hold rio 
copper in solution, nor other mineral unfriendly to liealth, when used with dis- 
eretion. The Jiallfctoii S]nings cont.ui'. carbonic acid, or fiicd air ; muriate of 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 25 

■ ' ' , " *' ' — 

soda, or common salt ; , and carbonates of lime, soda, iron, and niagnesia. The 
Kock Spring at Saratog-a, 7 miles N. of Ballston, contains carbonic acid, carbo- 
nate of soda, imiriate of soda, super-carbonated lime, and a carbonate of iron. They 
are nearly transparent, emit great quantities of cai-bonic acid gas, and many of theni 
are kept constantly bubbling by its discharge. Their temperatures are various ; 
those being the warmest, that emit and contain the largest proportions of carbonic 
acid gas, and vent the most water. They are from 50" to 52°, 55"', 58", and even 
67^ of Fahrenheit. 

Beside the springs of Saratoga, tliere are many others of merited celebrity. The 
spring at J\'eiu-Lebanon, is much resorted to for Bathing', and it is a pure tliernial 
waltr of the temperature of 72'^ of FfJircnheit. This also discharges considerable 
air, which keeps the water in constant ebullition. The air, unlike that of the Sa- 
ratoga waters, is azotic gas ,- and the waters of this Pool are freely used in all the 
culinary and other purposes of house-keeping. We have an almost infinite variety 
of Sulplmr Springs, from those of Clifton, in Ontario, to the little sulplivretlcd liy- 
drogcne springs every where diffused over the regions of clay, shistus and limestone, 
though less abimdant in the last. The Seneca oil, frcjm Cataraugus and Alkgany 
counties, is a petroleum vei-y nearly resembling the British oil of commerce. This 
liquid bitumen, is a product of induration — the oil of stones, (if I may be allowed 
tlie expression) which becomes indurated but ^ cry slowly, and then forms a species 
of miner.d coal. And it is this product which so universally deceives miners, 
searching m ovu* shistic rocks, for mineral coal, a most important desideratum in 
this stcitc. But unfortunately for the success of our researches, the abundance and 
celebrity of British co; 1, has stamped witli infallibilit!/ the knowledge of British 
miners ; while tlie niincralogy and geology of the British isles, and of the continent 
of America, are not exactly modeled on the same plan. 

It is the business of medical men, to treat of the medicinal uses of mineral wa- 
ters. But those of Saratoga county, are universally acknowledged to have been ef- 
ficacious in tlie cure of dyspepsia, calculous complaints, phagedenic and gangre- 
nous ulcei-3, chronic rheumatisms, general debility of the system from whatever 
cause, in clilorosis, and other affections arising from debility of the uterine system ; 
and dysentery, is occasionally benefited. Cutaneotis allections and herpetic sores 
are frequently relieved ; and people in the vicinity, who use the waters in abun- 
dance, are confirmed in a belief of their being a specific tor the cure of salt rheum, 
or palmata ; and very useful In scrofulous afliictions, and in the cure or removal 
of worms. The hyjjocondriasis, yields to their efficacy, as do some other nervous 
affections contracted from indolence and luxury. Dropsy, p.iralytic, and scorbutic 
affections, and intei-mittt-nt fevers, are suj>posed to have yielded under their use, 
and the consequent habits and regimen. And 1 am enabled to add three other im- 
portant cases of their efficacy, from my own personal knowledge. The o"he, a con- 
firmed catarrh of long standing ; the other an infiunnnation of the brain, occurring- 
at about the same season of two successive summers, but with diminished violence. 
And I notice these cases with gi-eat deference and emotion. The waters were pre- 
scribed by my learned and ingenious friend. Doctor J. M. Mann, of Hudson, now 
deceased, or I should have left these remarks to his better knowledg'e and judg- 
ment. He was perfectly convinced of their very great efficacy in each of the above 
cases. 

But we have too much reason to fear that serious ill effects result from an unad- 
vised use of waters of such active properties. Of the sulphur springs, and the sul- 
phuretted liydrogene, more commonly dlHused, little else is known tl^an that they 
cure itch, and some other cutaneous eruptions ; and have been useful in some scor- 
btitic humors. 

GovF.RXMEXT, CoxsTiTUTiox, anh Laws. As is common to each of the confedera- 
ted States of the American Union, the State of New-York has a written Constitution. 
This was adopted by a Convention of Delegates, April 20, 1777 ; and revised in 1801, 
when some trifling alterations were made. Its character is liepublican ; and while it 
forms the original compact between the people and tlieirrulers, itserves also asa De- 
claration and a Bill of Rights. Tne Constitution of the United States, was acce- 
ded to by this state in 1768, by 30 against 25 votes. See Histouv. 

Tlie Supreme Executive power is vested in a Governor, and a Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor, who IS President of the Senate, and performs the duties of the supreme exe- 
cutive, during any vacancy. They are elected every three years, by freeholders, 
po.ssessing a clear estate of 2-^0 Holl;.,i-s, as arc the Senators also. The I-icutcn:\ut- 



26 GENERiVL VIEAV OF NEW-YORK. 

Governor has none but a casting' vote, in case of equal division in the Senate. Botli 
are elected by a plui-ality of votes. 

The supreme Legislative powers, are vested in a Senate and House of Assembly, 
who meet at least once in each year. The .Senators, are elected for four years ; the 
Members, or Representatives, as they are called, who compose the House of As- 
sembly, are elected annually. The number of Senators, is limited at 32 ; of Mem- 
bers, may not exceed 150. It is now 114 ; with an annual increase of two members. 
For the convenience of electing Senators, the state is divided into four great Di- 
stricts ; the Southern, which elects 5 Senators, and contains 6 six counties ; the 
Middle 7 S., 8 counties ; the Eastern 8 S., 9 counties ; and the Western 12 S., 22 
coimties. The General Election, is held on the last Tuesday of April annually ; 
■when the State, County and Town OflFicers, are elected, except in a few instances 
for local convenience, or in compliment to ancient usage. Electors of Governor 
and Senators, must possess clear freehold estates of the value of 250 dollars ; elec- 
tors of Representatives or Members of the House of Assembly, consist of the Sena- 
torial electors, and all such other persons of full age as have resided within any 
county of this state for six months previous to the election ; freeholders to the va- 
lue of 50 dollars ; and those who have rented tenements of the yearly value of five 
dolls., and liave been rated ;md paid tr.xes within this state; — and such otherpersons 
as were freemen of the cities of New-York or Albany, previous to the 14th of Octo- 
ber, 1775. A census of the electors is taken every seven years, and the Represen- 
tation apportioned according to the numbers in the respective counties ; increa- 
sing the number of Representatives each vear by the addition of two, until they 
amount to 150. The Senators are divided into four classes, numbered 1st, 2d, 3d, 
and 4th, elected at different periods ; so that some new Senators are chosen annu- 
ally. The Legislative forms, are nearly allied to those of England. The Governor 
is Commander in Chief of the Militia ; and Jdmiral of the A'avi/, of this State ; he 
has pov.er to convene the I-egislature ; to grant pardons and reprieves for other 
crimes than ti-eason and murder ; and can suspend the execution of sentences in 
these cases, till the sitting of the Legislature, which alone has the right to pardon. 

A Council of Revision, consists of the Governor, the C!iancellor, the .ludges of 
the Supreme Court, or any two of them ; whose duty it is to revise all bills about 
to be passed into laws ; and if tliey object In writing to a bill, a re-consideration 
takes place, and the same must be amended, or appro\ed by two-thirds of both 
Houses before it can then become a law. And this is the negative of the executive 
power. If the council neglect to return a bill, in 10 days it becomes a law, unless 
the Legislature has previously adjourned. 

A Council of Apjiointment, consists of the Governor, and a Senator from each of 
the four great districts, chosen annually by the Legislatvu-e. In this council, the 
liovernor presides, with only a casting vote. The right to nominate, is vested con- 
currently in tlie Governor and the other members ol the council. The list of offi- 
cers annually appointed by this council, is enormous ; and consists of most of the 
subordinate officers of the stiite. 

The Chancellor, holds courts of equity, and appoints the officers of his court. 
The Supreme court, is a court of law. It consists of a Chief-Justice, and four as- 
sociate judges. County courts consist of a first judge, and a number of associate 
justices. Circuit courts are held in the respective counties, by a judge or justice of 
the supreme court, and tlie judge and justices of the county, 'justices of the peace, 
have cognizance of trials for tlie recovery of debts to the value of 25 dollars ; and 
in New-York, to the value of 50 dollars. Tlie right of habeas corpus is preserved, 
and the trial by jury. Appeals lie from all courts of record to higher courts, and 
only terminate in the court for tlie trial of Impeachments and the correction of Er- 
rors, wlijch consists of the President of the Senate, and the Senators, the Chancel- 
lor, and the Judges of the Supreme court. To this court are brought appeals from 
all the others, and its judgement is final. There are also, a court of Probates, 
Surrogate courts for each count}-, a court of Exchequer, courts of 0}cr and Ter- 
miner, and General Jail Delivery, and of quarter sessions. Under tlic Federal sys- 
tem, we have four annual sessions of the District Court of tlie United States, which 
has cognizance of cases that arise under the general lav.s of the Union. 

The g-reat officers of State are, the Governor, Lieut. Governor, a Secretary of 
State, Comptroller, Treasurer, Surveyor-General, Attorney-General, Council of Ap- 
pointment, Commissioners of the i.M«l Office, the Rese""^*^ «i" the Univei-sity, &c. 
for the department of state. 



GENERAl. VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 27 

Judiciary officers of State, a Chancellor, 5 Judges of the Supreme Coxirt, and a 
Judge of Probates. For Military officers, see Mimtart Stkengtii. There are 7 
Major Generals of Infantry, 1 of Cavalry, 1 of Artillery, a Quarter Master General, 
Adjutant General, and a Commissary of Military Stores. The Governor is ex-offi- 
cio, Capt. General. All other military officers are appointed by the Council of Ap- 
pointment, and only hold their offices during its pleasure. The Chancellor, Judges 
of the Supreme Court, the 1st Judge of each Coimty, are so appointed, but hold their 
offices to the age of 60 years, imless impeached. The Treasurer is appointed by 
the Legislature, as are tlie Senators to the Congress of the United States. The 
Secretaiy, Comptroller, Surveyor-General, and Attorney-General, by the Council. 
Judges and Justices of county courts, and of the peace, Slierilfs, Coroners, a Sur- 
rogate for each county, whose doing's are subject to appeal to the Judge of Pro- 
bates, and a mimerous list of county officers, are annually appointed by the Coun- 
cil. The Reg'cnts of the University, which see, are appointed by the Legislature. 

The Lav/s of this State are voluminous ; and tiiough often revised under the 
direction of tlie Legislature, fill many volumes. And though the spirit of our laws 
be good, and the administration and courts very respectable, yet they may be cha- 
racterised by too close an adherence to the technical forms and legal expressions and 
fornuila of British Juris])rudence. Their circumlocutoiy expression and lan- 
guage calls more for legal interpretation, than common understanding. And the 
mysteries of legal knowledge, of course require many men versed in the arts 
of legal cunning, which constitutes the basis of a most lucrative learned profession. 
Wherefore is it that tlie science of law is stationary, in reg\ird to pi'ogressive im- 
provement, common to all other departments of science and knowledge ! Since the 
year 1778, the various sittings of the Legislative Assembly, have passed 3443 chap- 
ters of laws, some of which till 50 pages of close print octavo. But the numerous, 
important, and ever-changing interests of ihe state, and avast and rapidly increas- 
ing population, denvind many laws — there are so many separate interests to be pro- 
vided for, that the laws may well be numerous — and they might as well be more 
intelligible to common sense. 

After all tlieir defects, I believe they arc as free from error, as those of most 
other states — and there certainly has been as much intelligence employed in their 
adaptation. In no state, are the public interests better vmderstood, or those of the 
community — and perhaps m no one better preserved by the administration of jus- 
tice, the great object of laws. 

For the general convenience, and the better administration of justice, the whole 
territory of this State is subdivided into Counties, and these into Towns. And 
what may be termed the municipal regulations of our constitution and laws, rela- 
tive to the conservation of the public peace, and the general and individual welfai-e 
of those districts, may well deserve commendation, and the consixleration of other 
States. Counties, are territorial districts, of various extent, according to tlie local 
and general interests. Towns, are tlie next subdivision of Counties, and of various 
extent also, for the same reasons. Other subdivisions of Towns exist, by special 
incorporation of a portion of their territory. Compact settlements have local iii- 
tererts to promote, different from those of the surrounding and more diffiiscd po- 
pulation — and thus a City or Village is specially incorpoiated, within a Town, and" 
i-estrieted to a smaller area ; and invested with certain privileges and inimunitie* 
according to the separate interests : Thus it constitutes a civil, integral part of 
the town or county. And those are the only civil divisions of the state ; — thougli 
a vague and unsatisfactory distinction has been in some use beiween a Towni and 
To'wnship — couiining the latter to districts of a definite and limited area. Town, 
is strictly, and even by our laws, a civil or communal district — Township, a terri- 
torial. 

The area of Towns, will continue to be diminished, as population increases; and 
the tract of country comprised within tlie limits of a Town, will, and may with 
propriety, continue to be desig'iiated as that Township. It is now vaguely said 
that a Towiisli]p is a tract of 6 or 10 miles square. By this scale, many Towns of 
small dimensions, opulent and very populous, are totally deprived of any designa- 
tion. They are not cities, nor ev ,n villages ! What arc they .' They are organi- 
zed for Town purposes, elect Town officers, pay Town, County and State taxes, 
and some of these have even Town-houses, wliere the public business is transac- 
ted ! Civilly, they are Towns ; ten'itorially, Townships, wiuitevcr their forra 

or area. 



28 GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 

Sheriffs, the Judges of County courts, Sec. arc county officers ; and a Count}' Clerk 
and Treasurer, is appointed in each County by the Council of Appointment. 

All meeting's for the purpo.ses of Election, are held by the Electors of eacli civil 
subdivision respectively ; the election bein;^ g'eneral throughout the State, on the 
same dav, with some few exceptions. The votes taken for State officers, are re- 
turned from the respective Towns to a County Officer, wjio transmits the whole to 
the seat of g-overnmcnt of the state. At this g'cneral election, the votes for Gover- 
nor Lieut. fTovernor, Sen;Ltors and Representatives to Conj^-css, Re]3resentatives to 
the House of Assembiv of this state, are respectively taken, so often as all these 
officers are to be elected. And the toAvn officers also ; these consist of a Supervi- 
sor for each town, a TouTi Clerk, Assessors^ Collectors and Constables, Commis- 
sioners of hig-hwavs, Overseers of hig-hways or Road masters. Fence viewe^-s. Pound 
masters. Overseers of the poor, and in such numbers as shall be found conducive to 
the public interests, each for one year respectively. The powers and dvitics of 
town officers, extend to all objects of the communal welfare. The Supervisors, 
when met in convention, form a board of assessment for the county taxes, as the 
assessors and the respective supervisors and town clerks do for town taxes. The 
general tax list of state, county and town taxes, is thus made out Iw the supervi- 
sors, and accoimts ag'ainst the public, audited by them. Each supervisor bring-s 
with him a list and valuation of taxable property in his respective town, furnislied 
by its board of assessment and valuation, of which he is one member ; wlien a state 
t:ix is called for, tlie per centag-e is determmed by the Leg-islauire, transmitted to 
thecountv clerks by the Complt-oUer, and by them to the board of Supervisors : and 
on tiiesedata and amounts, the whole list is made, and put into the hands of the 
several collectors, who are town officers. Some of the constables are usually chosen 
collectors also, who give bonds to the town, for the faitliful performance of their duty. 
Representatives to the House of Assembly, are cliosen by counties ; each county 
being entitled to a number proportioned to its population. Their respective num- 
bers at present, ai-e given in the county descriptions. Each cotnny has a sei^arate 
civil' commission ; and constables are town officers, but their j^uvsdiction for the 
service of process, extends also throughout the county in wliicli they belong. Su- 
pervisors are town officers ; and, in convention, important county officers also. 

The basis of this plan of division, was laid by what was termed tlje General Or- 
ganization Act of tlie Legislature, passed so early as March 7, 1788, when the 
whole territory was divided into fourteen counties, and those subdivided into 
towns, and separately organized on the present plan. Previous to this general di- 
vision, a vague and singular confusion of designative names prevailed ; origmating 
in the caprice of settlers, the grants of patents or large tracts of land, and every 
pther cause that could aid in promiscuous confusion. Excepting the names given 
to certain patents of land, District, Parish, Precinct, and Manw, were the most 
common. Borough, in imitation of the British, was a name considerably used; 
and it had been better if this name had been retained for such compact settlements 
or villages, as are incorporated; leaving the broader term of Villagv, for unincorpo- 
rated compact settlements. Utility, is at all times worthy Legislative considera- 
tion ; a onsideration too, which is' duly and lionorabiy regarded in this state. — 
Our neighbors, the Pennsvlvanians, have found it convenient to retain tiiis distinc- 
tion of Bo/ough, from Criy, t)ie larger corporation, with more extensive privileges. 
Such had long been the growing confusion of names, together with the difficulty 
of defining boundaries, that otiier acts of general division ^yere passed in April, 
1801, making new divisions. By these, the \\hoie state was divided into 30 Coun- 
ties, and 286 Towns. Successive subdivisions, have since increased the number 
of Counties to 46, and tlic Towns to 452, including four incorporated Cities ; which 
are also Towns, for the usual purposes of this organi/.ation, and having such Town 
Officers, as the general interests require. The Cities, are governed by a Mayor, 
app-oiiited by the council of appointmeni, and by aldermen, &.c. ciiosen by the citi- 
zens. The incoi poratcd Villages, or BorougJis, by a President and Trustees, ap- 
pointed and chosen as in cities. 

Revexuf,, Expenses, and Taxiis. Agreeable to the very able Report of the Comp- 
troller to the Legislature of tliis State, during its annual session in ISll, tiie jn-o- 
ductive funds, invested in stock of banks. United S.ates stock, &c. securities on 
lands, &,c. &c., amount to S4,li'l,803.25. Tlu-se funds produce an annual revenue 
to the state, amounting to S'278,4;!9.9<5. To this amount of funds, great as it is, 
we may add that of the Scliool Pund, excluded from the above, as being set apart 
for a special purpose, tliougli subject to tiie disposition of the Lcgisiattu-e, and 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORIt. 29 

owned by the state. It amounts to §483,326.29 ; and produces an annual income, 
to be added to that fund, of §36,427.64. The state still owns about 1,000,000 acres 
of land ; subject, also, to the disposition of the Legislature. If, for the sake of ag- 
gregate computation, we estimate these lands at two dollars per acre, there ap» 
pears the enormous amount of §6,675,129.54, now actually belonging to this state, 
in permanent funds. The detailed account of the revenue and expenses of the go^ 
vernment, for the year 1810, cannot be better given than by following the Report 
of the Comptroller. Though too lengthy for my plan, yet as this document exhi- 
bits the amount of the funds, and of revenuesj with the sources from which they 
arise, together with the amount, nature and object of the expenditures and dis- 
bursements, I shall copy the principal details, necessary to my purpose, at full 
length. 

FUNDS OF THE STATE. 

The debt due from the president, directors and company of the 

bank of New- York, §1,262,091 46 
three per cent stock of the United States, 779,655 96 
152 shares of the capital stock of the bank of the United States, 60,800 
100 do. do. do. New-York, 50,000 
100 do. do. do. Albany, 40,000 
600 do. do. do. Farmers' bank, 28,000 
800 do. do; do. New-York State do. 40,000 
1000 do. do. do. Manhattan company, 50,000 
loan of 1792, made to individuals, on landed security, 500,000 
balance due on the loan of 1786, 77,956 6 
loan of 1808, also to individuals, in a time of severe and op- 
pressive scarcity, 449,076 
loans to individuals, 26,390 89 
mortgages on lands in BrothertoAvn, 31,695 76 
Cayuga and Onondaga, 254,383 40 
Oneida, 213,575 19 
various other tracts, 100,973 35 
Bonds for the consideration money of lands sold by the 

siu-veyor-general, 135,205 18 
950 shares of the stock of the western inland lock navi- 
gation company, 92,000 

§4,191,803 25 



REVENUE; 

The annual revenue of the state, may, for the present, be estimated at §278,489 96 
arising trom the following sources : 

Interest, on the debt due from the bank of New-York, 75,725 48 

on the thi-ce per cent stock of tlie United States, 23,389 67 
on the loan of 1792, made by order of go vernment to inidvidiials, 27,400 

on the loan of 17»6, do. do. 2,772 80 

on the loan of 1808, do. do. 26,944 56 

on loans to individuals, 1,583 46 

on mortgages on lands in the reservations, 28,077 52 

do. Brothertown tract, 1,901 74 

do. various other tracts, 6,058 40 

on bonds, 8,112 3l 

Dividends on bank-slock^ exclusive of sia'phts proft:^, viz. 

United States §4,864 

New-York 4,500 

Albany 3,600 

Farmers' bank , 2,520 

New- York state bank _J_ 3,600 

Manhattan company 4,500 

23,584 

Duties on sales at auction, exclusive of the appropriations 
for the support of foreign poor in the city of New- 
York, antl for tiie support ol Ihc New- York hospital, 35,000 



30 GEKERAl^ VIEW OF NEW-YOKK. 

Fees of office to be accounted for by the secretary and sur- 

veyor-g'encral, 500 

Onondag'a salt springs, 7,000 

Kent of the government-house in the city of New- York, 1,750 

llent of lands leased, 690 

Quit-rents, 8,000 



S278,489 96 



Clonics received into the tieasuri/ in 1810. 

For interest on the debt due from the bank of New-York, ^75,725.48 ; interest 
on 3 per cent stock of the United States, §23,386.37 ; interest on loans of 1792 ftnd 
1808, g53,888.13 ; interest on various niortgag'es, bonds and loai\s, §30,539.98 ; 
for princip;tl of various mortgages, bends and loans, Sll,'121.60 ; jjvincipal and in* 
interest on the loan of 1786, principal of lands sold, &c., §36,332.82 ; for dividends 
on ijank stock, exclusive of tl>at appropriated to the school fund, §33,323.62 ; from 
the superintendents of the OMond;ai:a salt sprintvs, §3,U87 31 ; for loans obtained to 
)!icct the extraordinary expenditures of g-overnnicnt, from the bank of New-York, 
and bank of Albanj', §160,000 ; for vacant lands, rents, arrears of quit rents and 
commutations, loan to Union Colieg'e in 1806, and sundiy other small items, 
§40,035.26 ; for arrears of taxes, interest on do. and pcdlars''licenccs, §19,677.80; 
tlutics on sales at auction, §127,774.1 ; from several lotteries, §10,850.50 ; making 
In all, §626,042.88. Or, independent of the loans to meet the extraordinary expen- 
ditures, §466,042.88. 

During the year 1810, \varrants were issued for the payment of sums amounting^ 
to §6U6,157.22, to satisfy the various demands on the government, in current ex- 
penses, disbursements, &.c., for that year. The following is the state of the ti'ea- 
sury therefore, on the 31st of December, 1810. 

Balance i-emaining in the treasury, .hmuary 1, 1810, § 4,291 45 

Amount received into the treasury diu'nig the jear 1810, 626,044 88 



Deduct warrants drawn, during the vear, 606,157 22 

Deduct do. drawn in 1809, and unpaid till 1810, 171 00 



630^334 34 

606,328 22 

Balance in the treasury, including bills of credit, emission of 

^ 1786, 1788, 24,006 12 

Estimate nf the expenses of stover iiment, for 1811. 

Salary of the Governor, §3,750 ;* rent of house and taxes, §800 ; incidental ex- 
penses, §750; and usual com])en.sation to his private secretary, §624.50 — in all 
§.5,yi'i.50 ; salary of the Chancellor, §2,500 ; salaries of Judg'es i5U])reme Court, ad- 
ditional compensation, and salary of Ueporter, §16,250; salary Secretary of State, 
and expenses of his office, §3,650 ; Comptroller, expense of his office, and postag-c 
of official letters, §3,600; Treasiu-er, and his clerk, §2,000; Surveyor-General, 
§1,750 ; Altornev-Gcneral, §2,000 ; compensation to District-Aitornies, §9,000 ; 
to Siicrifi's, §7,000 ; to Pnnters, §8,000; salary Judge Court of Probates, §250; 
Adjutant-General, and lor ])Ost:ige of official letters, §880 ; salaries of Brigade In- 
ijpcctors, §2,200 ; of the Conmiissary and Deputy Commissary of military stores, 
§1,750 ; repairs of arsenals, cleaning arms, &c., §2,800 ; for surveys of public 
lands, and salary Clerk Conmiissioners Land-Office, §1,750 ; conij)ensatlon to Mem- 
bers and Officers ^Legislature, conLiii!.;ent expenses, for indexes to joiunials, door- 
keeper. Councils of Appointmetrt and llevision, §45,160 ; compensations to Counly 
Clerks, messengers for i-eturns of votes. Sec, §1;8L'0 ; allowance for professorship 
anatomy Columbia college, §500 ; salaries of tlic agent, clerk, and keepers, Stale- 
Prison, §7,400; pay guard, and cio thing, §8,200; salaries of attornies to the 
Oneida, Onondaga and New-Siockbridge Indi;.ns, §200 ; annuity for support of 
schools at New-Stoekbridge, §300.02 ; annuities to Indi;ms, and expense of pay- 

* To aavi room, I sluillinclude the usual additional allo-ivajices, -ivhich depend hoive 
ver on annual apprupriafions by the Lrginlatiire, in the ^^rniin amovnl of salaries, com- 
pensation!!, &c. The increased labors of public f/nctionuries have, in many instances, 
required additional compensations, ■xrhich, e^tubtiuhed by precedent and annual nsat^e, 
are included in the permanent expenses. 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 51 

ment, §13,89;] ; expense of entertaining- Indians visiting- the capital, §200 ; sun- 
dry small items, §744.57; making- §149,701.09. To xvhic/i tmist be added, for inte- 
rest on tlie debts due to five banks, §52,800 ; and also, unexpended balances of for- 
mer appropriations, for purchase of arms, &c. ; defence of Ne^v-York ; and for com-> 
pleting the capitol or g-overnment house at Alban)-, §16,910 ; balances due county 
treasurers, §4,454.13; belonging- to school nin<l, §326.33; due Chamberlain of 
New-York, for support of foreign poor, §18,886.34; printers for publishing tax no- 
tices in 1810, sums erroneously paid into the treasury, belonging- to the school 
fund, to be refunded to tlic Regents, and for premiums for the best specimens of 
woolen cloth, §25,288.33 ; amounting to §118,665.13 ; which, added to the abo>e, 
forms an aggregate amount of §268,366.22, for the expenses of government and ne- 
cessary disbursements for the year 1811, exclusive of any extraordinary appropri- 
ations that may be made for defence, or other objects of national expenditiu-e, dur- 
ing the session of 1811. This estimate, liberal as it is, leaves an excess of revenue, 
amounting to §10,123.74 ; and, including the balance in the ti-casury, February 16, 
1811, of ready funds, to the amount of §'34,139.86. 

Debts. The debts due from this State, exclusive of unliquidated demands to a 
small amount, and the bahince claimed bv the United States, are, to the Bank of 
New-York, § 595,000; Manhattan compr'nv, 150,000; Merchants' Bank, 75,000 ; 
Bank United States, 50,000 ; B;.nk of Albany, 10,000 ; in all, §880,000. The loan 
made in 1808, to the citizens of this slate, the lavg-e appropriations for purchase of 
arms, ordnance, &c., defence of frontieis, fortifying the harbor of New-York, and 
various other objects of increased expenditure, are the causes of this l;u-ge amount 
of debt. 

School Fcxn. T]»is is composed of the following items ; Bonds and Mortgages 
for consideration money of lauds sold by the Survtyor-General, §232,702.97; 2370 
.shares of capital stock of Merchants' Bank, § 118,500; INIortgages for loans, 
§ 103,341.12 ; cash in the Treasury, § 326.33 : interest due on loans, bonds ami 
mortgages, §28,455.87; nuiking inall, §483,326.29. The Revenues of this fund 
arise from interest on bonds and mortgages, §20,162.64 ; dividends on bank stock, 
§10,665; Collections from Quakers, refusing to do military duty, §1,600; nelt 
proceeds of the Clerks' offices of the Supreme court, § 4,000 ; and amount to 
§ 36,427.64. 

It will be recollected that the individual states derive no revenues from coin-. 
merce, which belong solely to the genei-al government of the Union. And it may- 
be proper to observe that the actual p.aynu-nts into the United States' treasury,. be- 
tween April 1, 1801, and April 1, 1805, for Revenue collected in the port of New- 
Y'ork, amounted to § 12,862,020.87 ; and tliat its Exports, amounted in one year, 
to § 23,482,943. In 1805, we had 166,363 tons shipping. Since the year 1806, a- 
hout 160,000 dollars have l)cen appropriated by this state, to the purchase of arms, 
ordnance and military stores, building of .Vrsenals, Magazines, &c. ; beside 100,000 
dollars for fortifying the harbor of New-Voik, in conformity with the plan of the 
general government; and many liberal appropriations for intoi-nal improvements, 
various public works, and otlier ol>jects of national interest ^nd general utility. 
From the above details, it must be evident tl\at the Treasury of this state is one 
of the richest in the Union ; while they exhibit abuuilant proof that the iiscal con- 
cerns have been ably managed. Bui the Financier had ajuple means for t!ie pre- 
sent prosperous state of tlie public finances, in duties on commerce, previous to 
the surrender of this source oi' revenue to the general government, in confiscations, 
and the public lands. This subject is importai\t also, to the statesman, as it shows 
the price we pay for the union of the States. Possessed of exclusive sovercigiity 
of all oui- national resources, tliis stale woidd hold a towering- supremacy over the 
other states of the Federal union ; and might rank with many of those of the east- 
ern continent, at no remote period. Pos.sessed of such resources, derived not from 
factitious, but from natural and j:'t:rmancut causes — with a most singular coinci- 
dence of circumstances in defining the form and extent of territory, so perfectly 
adapted for reciprocity in the interests of agriculture, commerce and trade, it 
would be gross stupidity that should deny to New-York, ihe first rank in the Union. 
It is the key-stone in the political arch ; as it is the natural t-mporium of surplus 
products, and cont;uns the great mart of foreign connncrce, which must forever 
remain tlie commercial metropolis of America. No State tax has been called for, 
since the year 1800 ; and the county and town taxes, arc very light, and scai-cely 
felt by the inhabitanta. On a gcncrsl average, tlicy do not exceed one mill on a 



32 GENERAL VIEW OF NEAV-YORK. 

dollar, at a fair valuation of propert)'. For the mode of assessment and collection 
of taxes, see Government, than which no plan can be better adapted. 

Military Strength. The JMilitla of this state, consists of every able bodied 
ipale inhabitant, between 18 and 45 years of age ; and tlie laws have made an 
honorable exception in favor of those whose religious opinions are averse to 
war. Agreeable to the annual return of the Adjutant General for 1809, the en- 
rolled Infantry amoimted to 95,324; the Artillery, 3,102; the Cavalry, 3,642} 
total 102,068. 

The Governor is ex-ofiicio Captain General and Commander in Chief; and the 
;ictive duties are assigned to subordinate officers. The whole Infantry is ai-ran- 
ged into five Divisions, commanded by five Major Generals ; these into 37 Bri- 
g-ades, commanded by o7 Brigadier Generals ; — Brigades are constituted of Re- 
giments, commanded by Lieut. Colonels, of which there are 145; those are con- 
stituted of Battalions, commanded on parade by Majors ; Battalions by Compa- 
nies, commanded by Captains. There are, therefore, 1 Capt. General, 5 Major 
Generals of Infiuitry, 57 Brigadier Generals, 145 Lieutenant Colonels, 287 Ma- 
jors, 1262 Captains, and 87,188 privates ; 56,685 of which were present at tlie 
annual inspection. Tliere is 1 Major General of Artillery, 1 Brigadier General, 
3 Lieut. Colonels, 3 Majors, 58 Captains, and 2,730 Non-commissioned officers 
and privates. There is 1 Major General of Cavalry, 2 Brigadier Generals, 7 Lieu- 
tenant Colonels, 14 Majors, 72 Captains, and 3328 Warrant officers and privates. 
Since the date of this return, the Artillery has very much increased in numbers. 

The JMilitaiy Stores, are distributed over the state in Dejiosits or Arsenals, for 
public safety and convenience. A large Arsenal has been recently built near 'N. 
York, with work-shops, a laboratory, &c., at an expense of 24,000 dollars ; a ca- 
pacious Magazine of stone, has also been built near New-York, at an expense of 
J^,000 dollars. A large Arsenal is erected in Albany, and a Mag-azine for pow- 
der erected in 1811. Smaller Arsenals have been erected near tlie northern and 
western frontiers, and military stores deposited in them, ready for any emer- 
gency. Smce 1806, more than 100,000 dollars have beeii expended in the pur- 
cliase of cannon, small-arms, and other military stores : and 100,000 dollars have 
been expended by this state, in conjunction with the General Government, in 
fortifying the harbor and j)ort of New-York. In magazines connected with these 
fortifications are depojited a large amount of the warlike stores belonging to 
the state. Agreeable to the i.nnaal report of the Commissary of Milit;<.ry .Stoi-es 
in 1811, there were deposits at New-York, Fort Richmond, Fort Columbus, Bed- 
low's Island, York-Island, in the vicinity of New-York ; at Albany, Rome, \Vater- 
town, Onondaga, Canandaigua, Batuyia, and in St. LawTence, Clinton and Essex 
counties : Beside 41 brass 6 ])ounders ; 7 brass 4 pounders ; 45 brass 3 poun- 
ders ; 2 brass 2 pounders ; in all 95 pieces of brass field ordnance, completely 
mounted and fit for service, delivered the commandants of the different corps 
of Artillery throughout the state. Among the immense mass of warlike stores, 
contained in the several arsenals and deposits, I notice 153 cannon and mortars, 
:md 8,409 stands of small-arms ; making 248 field-pieces of various calibre, from 
32 down to 2 pounders ; beside a vast quantity belonging to the United States. 

FoRTincATroivs j»Ni) Fort?!. The regulra- Fortifications recently erected for the de- 
fence of the harbor of New-York, will be noticed under New-York. They have been 
constructed on the plan of the General Government, v,'lth the co-operation of 
this state, and at an enormous joint expense. The fortresses known to history, 
from the events of the Revolution and former wars, are very numerous and 
■yvere once important. But they are now principally in ruins. West-Point, tho 
Gibraltar of America, was strongly fortifi( d during tlie war; Ticondcvoga, Crown- 
toint, Oswego and Niagara, were the principal regular works. But llic remains 
of other fortifications on Long-Island, York Island, at Wlilte Plains, Stonj Point, 
Ycrplank's point, Pcekskill, about Albany, near Waterf'oid, at Fish Ci-eek, Be- 
mas's Heights, Fort Miller, I'ort F.dward, Fort Ann, Skencsborongli, now "Wliite- 
hall. Fort Geoi-ge and Fort ^\'m. Henry in Caldwell, and otlier places on the 
nortliern waters, are very numerous. At Schenectady, Fort Johnson, Fort Mdn- 
ter, Fort Plain, I'ort Anthony, Fort Hcikimei", German Flats, Fort Scliuylcr, at 
T.'tica, and Fort Slanwix, along the Mohawk ; Fort Bull, Fort Ricke}-, Fort Brcw- 
crton, and at Oncndag-a, and many other places in the Indian country. Many 
of these fortresses were of much less magnitude than importance; mere em- 
bankments, stockades or barilcades, of little use in the progreiss of well ap- 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 



pointed modern armies. The fort at Onondaga was built about 1690, by the 
English ; and the French had previously liad small colonics there, engag-ed in 
■wars, and who had probably erected some military defences. To these colo- 
nies, their wars, collections and dispersions, are we to attribute a large por- 
tion of those antiquities, and metallic remains in the western region. Ononda- 
ga was long the seat of the Iroquoise confederacy, the indigcnal capital of sa- 
vage legislation and power ; till the accursed jealousy of rival power, and the 
more odious fanaticism of conversion, led Christians to extirpate and dispei-se 
those whom they could not convince by force, nor persuade by violence. A cap- 
tain's command keep garrison at F. Niagara, and W. Point has a few waiting sol- 
diers, for the accommodation of a military school. 

Religion-. The Constitution provides for the free exercise of Religion in this 
state, in the 38th section of that instrument. " And -uthereas, we are required by 
the benevolent principles of rational liberty, not only to expel civil tyranny, but al- 
so to guard against that spiritual oppression and intolerance, wherewith the bigotry 
and ambition of weak and wicked priests and princes have scourged mankind : 
This convention doth further, in the name and by the authority of the good peo- 
ple of this state, ordain, determine and declare, that the free exercise and enjoyment 
of x'elig-ioiis pi'ofession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall 
forever hereafter be allowed within this state to all mankind. Provided, that the 
liberty of conscience hereby granted, shall not be so construed, as to excuse acts of 
licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this 
state." The 39ih section ordains, determines awd declares, that no minister of the 
gospel or priest of any denomination, shall ever hold an}- civil or military office or 
place, within this state. In April, 1804, a law was passed authorising all religious 
denominations to appoint Trustees, for the purpose of superintending the temporal 
concerns of their respective congregations. And these trustees, become a body 
corporate, by that general act, capable of all legal ti'ansactions in behalf of the 
congregation. 

All denominations, therefore, are left at liberty to support their own jMinistry, 
and maintain the oi'der of their woi'sliip, in such way as is most agreeable ; and 
every congregation may designate from three to nine of its members a.s trustees, 
who are, with little trouble, invested with corporate powers in behalf of the whole, 
and autliorised to hold estates producing an annual revenue of SOOiJ dollars. This 
fiee toleration has not proJuc d more sects in this, than in other states, less to- 
lerant of religious opinions. There are many sects, however ; and In the enume- 
ration of those, no regard is paid to comparative numbers. There are English 
I'resbyterians, Dutch Reformed, Congreg'.ttionalists, Episcopalians, Quakers, Bap- 
tists, Methodists, German Liitherr.ns, Moravians, Roman Catholics, Shakers, Jews, 
and a few of tin; Universal Fricjiclii, or the followers of Jemima "Wilkinson, Scotch 
Cameronians, Anabaptist^ ; and clu-istian charity woidd include some Indians, be- 
side those, who profess Christianity. Hut it is worthy of remark that many of the 
above sectarian distinctions, exist merely in name, while their tenets difii-r less, 
perhaps, than those of the same religious society, in the individual opinions. 

And while it is honorable to religion and the clu-istian character, that all those 
sectarian denominations I've in more or less of promiscuous intercourse, with good 
harmony and mutual good faitli ; it also affords demonstrative evidence of the wis- 
doni of the orig-jnal design of the government ;— a tribute oijust respect to the me- 
mory of those v.'iio formed the Constitution. 

If i-eligiou be characterised by piety, and piety consist in full conviction of the 
fjove.eignty of Deity, and the justice of his government ; in humble and devout sub- 
mission to his will, according as it be made manifest to the best lUuminatian of 
oiu" understanding, and in conformable devotional exercises, then nuist christian 
cliarity extend toward all intelligent beings, the sympathies of christian good-will. 
W'hen the untutored Savage forsakes lus darling pleasures, reforms his liabits and 
manners, lives more temperately and soberly, cherishes moral sensibility, and moral 
rectitude as a primary virtue, in obedience to a settled sense of duty,' he believes 
it is relig-ion, and adores the invls.ble God of his taith with pious and fervent re- 
verence. Ail knowledge is progressive. The remnants of Indian tribes that still 
remain in thp western part of tlds state, exhibit traits of reformation and of cha- 
racter, vastly important in the developement of the history of the human mind. 
Tliey seem passing from the lights of savage, to ttiose of civilized life — and in some 
instances of consideraide numbers, exhibit a lirmness m faitli and hope, honorable 
to tlieir character, and higidy interesting to tlic benevolent mind. And it may be 

4 



34 GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-Y01?k. 

'. — i' ■ ...ii.- ■ .. ^ g _ _. 

a subiect \vorthr the serious luid deliberate consideration of tlie Philanthrophist, 
the Philosopher and the enlightened (Christian, whetJier onr pious zeal for the con- 
rersion of the Heathen to the lig-hts of Revelation, should first be employed in ef- 
forts to civilize, or to make tlicm comprehend the mysteries of our holy religion. 
If the latter, \vhat sect shall first be employed in the propagation of its doctrines ! 
If we civilize the heathen, the stores of our knowledge are accessable to him ; and 
his mind, enlightc-ned by progressive knowledge, may then comprehend our faith, 
and partake of its blessings. 

I am aware that mam" men, and pious christians, have doubted of the propriety 
of leaving the support of religious worship to its several professors ; believing ra- 
ther that public patronage, Legislative aid, was essential to its preservation. And 
there have been professors, wlio have zealously contended that an ecclesiastical na- 
tional establishment wa.s Indispensible to the public welfare. Morality, forms one 
essential feature of the success of Christianity ; and the moral character of the citi- 
zens of this state, will not, I am fully persuaded, suffer by a comparison with that 
of ether states. Nor does there appear less reverence for the Divine character of 
Jehovah, and the attributes of Divinity, if we may be allowed to form a judgment 
from the habits and practices of the various professors of relig-ion. In gene- 
ral, there is a very laudable attention to meetings for public worship, among all 
classes of people ; and Congregations .ire rapidly increasing in number. 

MANXErs ANij Customs. The manners and customs of tlie people of this state, 
are rendered somewhat peculiar, by the varied chai-actcr of its original population ; 
and by a distinct preservation of their national characters to this time. Among 
those who planted the colony of New-York, and of tliose who became settlers du- 
ring many jears, a very large proportion were Dutch families from the Dutch Ne- 
therlands. Arriving in considerable num])crs, with many entire families, they for- 
med Dutch societies here as soon as they arrived, and thus merely translated the, 
rural economy of the population of the Netherlands, of Holland, and of the Banks 
of the Rhine, to those of the Hudson. As }et, the spirit of general migration had 
not ap]>eared ; and the Father and Son, with the whole family connection, n)ust ei- 
ther emigrate together, or remain so at home. The object was to colonize afar dis- 
tant counti-\' 4 and whole colonies embarked tog-ether, bringing with them brick 
faithfully burnt with Dutch peat, to a country of clay and wood, with other prepa- 
red materials for their houses. They were a trading, commercial people ; sliips 
verc freighted with brick ; and every habitation was furnished at first with a dwel- 
ling modelled from those they had left, and with store-rooms for trade, like those 
of Amsterdam, and of the trading towns at home. And thus at New-Amsterdam, 
now New-York, at Beaver Wyck, Fort Orange, or M'iU'^amstadt, now Albau}-, were 
to be seen in a few vears after the arrival of tliese colonists, rows of houses exact- 
ly like those of Holland, Ijiiilt of imported brick— -peopled by Dutch families from 
there, with all their love of neatness, order, industry and frugality, with the same 
long ]5ipes, and all the implements of domestic economy. There are yet standing 
in Albany, manv of those houses built of the best of small red bricks ; and there are 
also some in New-York, and at a few other early settlements along the Hudson. 
A stone Church was erected in Albany, at an early period, ajid the pulpit was 
iiiiported entire from Holland, and is still preserved, thougli the church is de- 
Tuolislied. These colonists, may well be characterised .is a pious, devout peo- 
ple — and the church becoming too small for tiie increased congregation, was 
most curiously enlarged. Anothei' stone -wall was founded, surrounding the an- 
cient church, "on which w.as raised the larger one enclosing tlie other, which was 
then demolished and removed, with only the iosu of public worship for three 
sabbaths. The modern clnirch was in the Gothic style of buikUng, 1 story high, 
and stood in the open .ai-ea formed by the angle of State, ]Market and Court-streets, 
about ninety-two years, and was on'ly demolished in 1806. Tlie stone has been 
.since em])loyed in the erection of " the South Dutch Church, a most superb 
rdtfice. But thc^e minutix of detail, belong to the Topographical p.art of this 
voik — \\)dle tlie traits of character that \\e learn from tliem, are in^jjortant in 
thi.-i article. Tlu-i-e are, probably, in this state, more men of opulence, whose 
flealth is derived from confirmations of Colonial p(,s.scssions in the descendants 
cC tile ancient colonists, than in any other ])ortion of the Unite4 States. And 
thi;; circumstiincc has also been conducive to tlie prcsci-vation of national habits, 
through .1 longer succession. 

Tlie .icctssion of numben-s after the conquest by the Engli.sli, in 1664, gave a 



GENERAL VIEW OF NE W- YOR K , 35 

new turn to affairs, and imigrants flc>cked from all the nations of Europe. From 
this period, less can be learnt or' the orlg-in of national lialnts, as imigrants be- 
came more numerous, and clierislied less of their forcig'n and national distinc- 
tions. The arrival of tlic F;-e;ich Protestants, about 1685, in-ovcd a considera- 
ble acquest of knowledi^e ; as did that of numbers of Merchants from Bermudas, 
about 1740, of ^vealth, commercial knowk-dg-e and enterprise. About 100 fami- 
lies arrived ut New-Yoi-k in 1710, of pooi' Palatines, from (jermuny : 60 or 70 of 
those settled Germantonn on the 11 bank of the Huds(ni, som.c inmiedlatcly op- 
posite, and some at Esopus, now King-ston. Other early German imig-rants settled 
on the Mohawk, in Orang-e county, on Loiiy-Island, and many oilier parts whore 
their descendants still remain. The early English, princij^ally in New-Yoi-k, 
and on Long'-Island. The French, at New-llochelle, in Westchester county, and 
on Staten-Island. The Scotch, during' the e.arly periods, abmtt Albany, and in 
Washington county. Considerable numbers from Massachusetts, formed settle- 
tnents on the eastern part of Long--Tsland, about this time, and their descen- 
dants form a large share of the present population. As the Dutch were the ori- 
g-inal proprietors and first colonists, so their numbers were the greatest, as were 
tjieir possessions also, and the most valuable. No foreign emigrants selected for 
richness of soil with so much care — and next in this respect, were the Germans- 
Nor have any others preserved their ancient possessions so entii-c, in the line of 
posterity as those; nor their distinct nation.d manners and habits. With tlie 
exceptions above noticed, we may reg-ard tlic choice, and especially tlie alhivial 
tracts along the Hudson, as orig'inally occ.ipied by the Dutcli, and a considera- 
ble portion of those tracts formed by its small tributary streams. The patents 
of land, granted to the Uutch, were numerous, and in many instances of vast 
extent. And these facts explain tlic origin and ct} inology of a numerous class of 
our names of things and places : nor ai-e the}' without importance in settling their 
orthog'raphy. The Mohawk, im-navigable at its lower cxtrenut} , and sterile, waa 
left to the later German, with some cxcc])tions, principally about Schenectady ; 
though their long-pipe-sagacity, as it was significantly styled by the Mohawk ihr 
dians, led them early to settle at Home, the western navigable cxti-emity of tlia.t 
river. 

But the revolution produced great changes in this state, which was constantly a 
' principal theatre of the war, and often that of its sanguinary conflicts. No i)art of the 
union, felt more of its immediate consequences or better sustained its American cha- 
racter in that period. And the clianges produced by the revolution, were, in gene- 
ral, favorable to the character of the state at large. That the principles of civil go- 
vernment anil rational liberty wei'e well understood here, the Constitution, and its 
adojition at that early ])eri()d, furnish conclusive evidence. To difiuse and perpe- 
tuate this knouledge, the municipal jilan of the government, becuune a most elii- 
cicTit mean — for dignity of character is a natural consequence of self-knowledge, 
and individual consideruiion. The prosperity that succeeded the peace, widely dif- 
fused a spirit of enterpiize and of emigration ; and the successive increase of po- 
pulation and wealth in this state, is without a parallel in modern history. Of the 
imigrants added to our population during this j)eriod, a large portion have come 
from the eastern states, principally agriculturalists, to settle the new lands of the 
wi'stern region, tliough many others are mechanics, merchants, traders and pro- 
fessional characters. Every pa^-t of the state has received them ; and Europe Ivas 
also yielded considerable mnnbers, from all ])arts. These detailed views of ouc 
original population, will serve to exhibit the various traits of national characier^ 
and the origin of those diversified habits, manners and custom.';, justly ascribed to 
us by accurate observers. Nor need it be concealed that those features antl trails 
of character usually denominated national, are founded in national prejudices. — 
There are many excusable follies of opinion, if not even amiable weakiiesaes, in the 
comjiosition of character, both individual and national. And thoug'li pliilosoptiy may 
contend that prejudice is founded in error, in foliy, in the v\eait.ujss of ini:e'ilect» 
and teach that the wise should spurn its sway,— -yet let them remember that family 
prejudices keep families together ; the prejudices of distmct societies, cherish the 
bond of their union ; and tliose of comniuuities and stales, form the medium by 
which political existence is cheiished if not preserved. And what is that miiver* 
sal love of home, but preference I — what patriotism, but preiercnce of country I 
And how often do these plainly appear to Ijc but prejudice ! An assimilation of 
manners, customs and h«bits, is often spoken of i.s being very desir.tble in tliii 



26 GENERAL YIEW OF NEW-YORK. 

state ; — ^but if we examine this subject, we may be surpi-ized to leavn that such 
is the constitutional debilit} of the human understanding, that those veiy preju- 
tllces which speculative philosophy affects to despise, ibi-m an important barrier 
between actual prudence and foil}', virtue and vice. For though humanity may 
sigh to acknowledge it, and reason, elated with the cobweb speculations of phi-> 
losopliy, deem it madness, yet the relations of civil society cannot be preserved 
tut on a basis so v.cak and hun^ble, however dci'ogatory. These form the inclo- 
sures that surround the relationships of civilized association, equally essential 
M'ith those that surround their respective possessions. By drawing closer the ties 
and the bond of union, best promote minor assimilation, social happiness and in- 
dividual woi'th. Though it Mere desirable that each and all would abridge the 
inmibt r of bad habits and foolish prejudices, of which all, probably, partake in 
some degree. 

The new character Imparted by the influx of imigrants. Is beneficial to the 
whole — and with the New-England people, have come tlielr improved agricultui-e, 
their enterprize, their ingenuity in the arts, and their social habits. And through 
their perseverencc and zeal, they are rapidly gaining a vast ascendancy in the 
state. From these, nuich has licen learnt by the more ancient Inhabitants, and 
something has been added to the general stock oi knov/ledge from all those, 
who have come from many nations. And while v.e ;alow to each its share of 
merit, candor will see in the distinct preservation of national character, the best 
g-uaraiitee tor public health, and general and national prosperity. 

In the habitual diet of any peojnc, originate many of their habits, though im- 
perceptible in their progress of ibrmation. And while the use of one descrip- 
tion of diet provokes to thirst, and Increases the appetite for strong drink, ano- 
ther may allay thirst, and lessen the relish for ardent liquors. And those who 
select iheir diet for vvholesomenesss of food alone, are little addicted to intcm- 
perimce in drink. 

The increasing use of ardent spirits, calls for consideration of tliese matters ; 
but to examine the characteristic diet of our varied population, would be deem- 
ed invidious. If brev.crles of malt-liquors were multijjlied over the country with 
tlie rapidity of small distilleries of grain and fruit-spirits, the increase might 
prove a national blessing instead of a curse. I do not know that intemperance 
is more prevalent in this, than in the other American states ; but I know that 
social meetings depend too much on the bottle for their convivial pleasures ; 
and that hilarity is dearly purchased, when obtained from this source. 

The amusements of the theatie, are confined to large cities — and stage repre- 
sentations are becoming favorite exhibitions of our colleges, academies, and schools. 
Public exercises, in commemoration of the birth-day of our national independence, 
;ire sometimes excluded from houses of worship ; and their doors thrown open to 
the village tutor, while his pupils act a play, and swagger and swear and fight 
in public, on a temporary stage thrown over the pews ! Dancing has long been 
a favorite amusement of the New-England people, and is perhaps, one of the most 
innocent diversions of any age. Games of chance, horse-racing, and private lot- 
teries, are forbidden by law, as of immoral tendency ; — but puldic loiteries ai-e 
authorised every year to a great amount ; — a species of legalized gambling, dif- 
fering from those in moral turpitude, only by aggregate comparison, and the sanc- 
tion or violation of the laws.* The vast number of inns, taverns, and gro- 
ceries, licensed to retail strong' drink, is a growing evil, felt most in cities, but 
extends in some degree to every borougli, vdlage, town, and settlum.ent in the 
state. By an actual enumeration in 1811, of those in the city of New-York, there 
were 1303 groceries, and 160 taverns. A small revenue, is collected from licenses, 
but it is the moral duty of the Lcg-islature to attempt a remedy for the grov, lug* 
<\ lis of intemperance, ihe source of numerous ills. It is presumed that Albany 
has as large a proportion of these houses as New- York ; and there is hardly a 
street, alley, or lane, where a lad may not get drunk for a few cents, and be 

* A preamble to an act of the J.egislciwe in 1783, recounts that, " -whereas, experi- 
ence has proved, that private lotteries occasion idleness and dissipution,"' &c. The same 
act declares that private lotteries are common and public nuisances, indictable offences, 
punishable by Jiiie, forfeitiire, and imprisonment, and places other games of chance un 
the same footing. JJas experience since tuvgUt that public lotteries have no immoral 
te.ndenciiS ? 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YCI^K. 



thanked foi" his custom, without any questions how he came by his money, or 
perhaps any care. Parents and g-uardians feel the evils of tliis system most sen- 
sil>ly, and first perceive the deep wounds tlius inflicted on the public morals. — 
The inn, is the traveller's home, and groceries are also convenient, if duly re- 
stricted in number, and well regulated. But the multitudes of mere grog'-shops 
serve only to encourage idleness, dissipation, intemperance, — and as the prolific 
nurseries of vice. 

llie style of Architecture, though of a compound character, is much improved 
wiiiun a few years, and seems arrived to g-reat perfection in the pojiulous towns. 
Aiid the domestic architectiu'e for houses throughout the country, equals tliat of 
any portion of United America. Combining the New-England lightness and ele- 
gance, with Dutch heaviness and durability, the houses are durable, commodious, 
and sufficiently elegant. And with the improvements of agriculture, the domes- 
tic economy of families is proportionably improved ; though in nothing mere so 
than in the fabric, variety and amount of household manufactiu'cs. In dress and 
clothing, a M'ide range is allowed to fashion, and probably something- to folly ; 
while an almost infinite variety prevails. In large and populous places, Uritish 
fabrics are principally worn, and Villagers conform as far as convenience will 
pex-mit ; but the use of American goods, is every day becom.lng more common, 
and much less intolerable, even among- the votaries of gaiety and fashion. In the 
country, am.ong tliose immediately employed in husbandry, a large part of the 
clotliing- is home-made, while sabbaths and holidays are set apart for botighten 
clolJie^, a distinction much used for j^mcrican or common, and foreign or finer 
dress. Though sabbathday coats and suits, " made Ly my wife, sisters, or daugh- 
ters," are not uncommon, of a good wool aiul manufacture, and shown with lau- 
dable pride. Wliole families, also, exhibit their various dresses of their own fa- 
bric, and the ladies are entitled to great commendation. Tliough the graver 
matrons find much fault with the gala atth-e of the belles in populous towns, and 
say ihey had better wear more clothes for comfort, and less for mere ornament : 
and these ancient folka have the presumption to dispute tjie ])rerogativcs of fa- 
shion, in prescribing a form so lean and spare, as tlic standard of taste and ele- 
gance. The customs and manners of people, are always considerably modified by 
their respective occupations ; and it v»ould be well, perhaps, if the distinctions 
were even greater than they are. The best British writers on their civil po- 
licy, have long held it as a maxim, that the welfare of tlie community, rendered 
it desirable that the distinctions of habits and manners arising from mere occu- 
pation, slumld be especia.lly cherished. Certain it is that the luxury of living 
introduced among the merchants and professional characters of this country, 
would involve in g-enerul ruin the m.ore laborious and indigent of farmers, me- 
chanics, &c., were they to conform to such examples : and the^ justice of these 
observations will be felt by thousands of those. No occupation in life, is so ho- 
norable as that of the husbandman — and when this sentiment shall be duly ho- 
nored, the period will prove a happy one for our country. Nothing coniluccs 
more to the preservation of liberty and_ honorable sentiments, than the indepen- 
dence ])rocurcd by industry — and no dignity of character is so valuable as that 
of conscious worth. There are, in this state, about 100,000 freeholders — 
!;'id fi'eehold estates are known to produce their proprietors, from 30,000, down 
to 50 dollars per annum. This fiict, forms also a peculiar feature of the civil 
habits, manners and customs, of the population of this state. And this feattu-e 
is a prominent one in the list of objections raised by our Eastern brethren. The 
multiplication of small freeholds, is doubtless desirable, in every point of view. 
And disparities of wealth, degrees of opulence, are also essential to the general 
good — they are especially so in a govermnent founded on public opinion. But it 
is of infinite importance to the civil and political interests of individuals, socie- 
ty, arid the state at large, tliat the ojiident landholders should be men of worth 
— of plain and domestic habits. For the influence: of wealth, though considera- 
ble in the sway of public opinion, is infinitely gTeater in that of ])rivate morals, 
which stamj) the moral character. The allodial tenure of lauds in America, forms 
a distinguished excellence of our civil character ; and by an vmdivided jn-ofit to 
cultivators, forms a better guarantee for domestic happiness, and the perpetuity 
of our civil compacts, than all our laws and constitutions combined. It is these 
tenures that first inspire considerations of self-respect, and cherish and diffuse 
among cuitjvittors, that spirit of independence wjiich bids defiance, to tyranny. 



i8 GENERxiL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 



the usurpations and encroachnienls of despotisJTi, and the misrule of political or 
rt'ligious anarcliy. 

Languari!. The preceding' article which indicates the parts of tlie state set- 
tled hv imigrants from the "various nations and countries, will supercede details 
that w'ould otherwise belong to this article. The Eng-lisli language, is princi- 
pally in use, though the Dutch and German, are considerably spoken by people 
of the Dutch and'Cerman descent. But with tlie promiscuous intercourse, and 
the influence of a large majority of those who speak English, these and other 
dialects are falling into disuse. Public business is -wholly transacted in the En- 
lylish language, records are kept in it ; and there is little printing or publishing 
done, in an)' other. In a few instances, public worship is performed in Dutcli, 
German, and the Welsh dialect ; but there are few among those congi-egations 
who do not miderstand English, though their national attachments clierish the 
mother-speech. It will be recollected, however, that v/ith a numerous popula- 
tion, Avidely diffused, and composed of Eng-lish, Irish, Scotch, Dutch, German, 
Frencli, Swiss, and imigrants in smaller numbers from almost every other por- 
tion of Europe, beside Jews, and vast numbers of English Am.ericans ; — and re- 
taining many remnants of the Indigcnal tribes Avith a numerous class of names de- 
rived from tliem, our language must be tinctured with idiomatic distinctions and in- 
f.ections almost innumerable. Critical disquisitions, are foreign to the nature of 
this work ; but it may be proper to observe that most Em-opean languages ure 
derived principally from the Latin or Gothic ; and eacli boasts a numerous pro- 
geny. But the Euroi)ean English, or British, from causes that constantly operate 
on all living languages, participates in some degree, of both these grand sources ; 
and, in various degrees, of most of the lan^'uages derived from those. Tliere is 
scarcely a language or dialect known in the history of the wliole globe, but has 
yielded some words or idioms to this language ; and though some difficulties 
arise from these sources, yet the copiousness, force, dignity, and melody tlms ac- 
auircd, are more than ample compensation. But while the combined action of 
revolutions in states, changes in social and civil relations. Improvements in sci- 
ence and arts, new discoveries and inventions, have been progressively efilicting 
these chanres in European English, comm.on to all living languages, a new era 
in the history of nations and language has arisen in the new political character 
of the American States. And this new combination of events, with the progi-ess 
of years, and times, and seasons, has wrought with us considerable changes, in 
thcEnglish language of our own country. And tliough minor criticism may sneer 
at it, yet cndor Snd krtowiedge will own tliat the stores of learning are constant- 
ly enriching the English langT-iage from the various languages, dialects, usages, 
and records of knowledge, of all the nations and countries of the globe. And is 
it stran"-e that a langv;:ige thus miiversLlly diffiised, embracing every region and 
clime, s^^oken by at least 23 millions of people, should be subject to modifica- 
tions and changes ? The additional v/ords, sanctioned by utility and usage, con- 
fer a legitimate claim on those of all nations. Whatever may be pretended, th.e 
English language is as correctly spoken and written in this state as in any other ; 
though in no otlier, does there exist so great a diversity of .speech. The cap. 
tious pride of mother-country, provincial criticism, will little relish to be told 
tliat English elocution'accpures force and gracefulness from the idiomatic expres- 
sion of our best orators of Diitclv extraction. But candor and truth must own 
that common error has corrupted the language, while taste and study, have been 
contributing to its improvement. 

I.TTEHATURE Asyy ScTEKCE. Youug In political erastence, this article affords less 
latitude to enumeration, than is <iue to merit. To name the living, might be 
deemed invidious, or perhaps give rise to suspicions of partiality. Some brief 
notices of the present- state of literature and science in. this state, must tliere- 
fore limit this theme, tiiough some partial retrospections ai'e.even permitted un- 
deu- all these restrictions. If the literature v.-eie estimated by tlie quantity and 
variety oi' publicaticns that issue from the press, we should be entitled to a higii 
rank. ■ If by learning, and original composition, we must enumerate tlie woi-ks of 
living writers, and even descend to minute details of gazettes, pamphlets, and a 
great variety of periodical publications. The state of learning, has undergonff 
<;or,siderable changes witliin a few years ; and with a more general dihiision of 
jettcrs, a. taste for classic 'and elegant literature has increased. - The stores af 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORX. SD 

knowledge imparted by science, have been found to give a new impulse to en- 
quiry ; and a taste for the study of general science is beginning to prevail amonsj 
large numbers. 

The plan of common-school education, is still defective in this state ; but it 
is progi-essively improving, and we may venture to anticipate a rapid progress. 
An accumulating fund devoted to this object, vv'ill form a be;tter mc-iai of utility 
in a national view, thiin a few splendid pensions to individuals. For tliough these 
.might create a higher literary character for the state abroad, they would dis- 
pense the means of acquiring useful knowledge but to a few. The grand object 
of learning, is the acquisition of knowledge, subservient to the purposes of life. 
-And a community of mere literature, would be worse than useless, however bril- 
liant in sound ; while science diffuses a radiance of real and more general util- 
ity. In original genius, this state f(U-nishes good comparative examples, in many 
departments of knowledge. But the attractive splendor that learning- imparts, 
should be estimated by its uses ; and grades of genius, of talents, destined for 
different spheres of action, become distinguished by proportionate degrees of 
knowledge. Nothing-, therefore, can be more unfair, or more prejudicial to know- 
ledge than to estimate the literature of a state, by the number of men devoted 
merely to literature, or by the number and splendor of its literary establishments. 
General diftiision, and utility, are the criterions by which to estimate the litera- 
ry character of a communitj' ; and this state of society, while it requires for all 
some learning-, will necessarily produce some men of genius and talents who will 
rapidly mount to higlicr, to the original sources, and diffuse the stores of an- 
cient literature. But it is imixortant to remember that learning is not knowledge, 
except in a very limited sense, though it aid essentially in its acquirement. — 
The number and extended circulation of g-azettes, and periodical publications, 
fijrms a distinguishing featiu-e in the literary character of the American States. 
There ai-e about 100 printing establishments in tliis state, and 69 gazettes, be- 
.<5ide a very Considerable number of other public journals, which widely diffu.se 
information of various kinds. The first newsjiaper published in this state, was the 
Kcw-York Gazette, in 1725, and the increase to this time is surprisingly gTeat, 
Books, pamphlets, &.C., are probably published now to tlie annual amount of near 
a half million of dollars, by the capital employed in printing. Look-selling, &c. 
Nor are we destitute of claims to respectable notice from the chiu-acter of our 
literary journals, and those more immediately devoted to science. A very use- 
ful mean of general intelligence might be readily supplied from the journals of 
several agricultural and other societies, whose publications are now too limited 
hi circulation, but which produce a considerable mass of useful knowledge. — 
There are now published in this state, 69 gazettes or newspapers : 6 daily, in the 
city of New-Yoik ; 7 semi-weekly, 5 in New-York, and 2 in Albany ; and 56 week- 
ly,' in the cities, boroughs, villages, and country towns. In 28 counties, there arc 
now published weekly papers ; and the warmth of political zeal, is constantly es- 
tablishing new ones, and extending the circulation into every section of the state.* 

In the style of printing, engraving, &c., the state of the arts may be secn_ by 
inspection, to have greatly Improved within a few years. In architecture, paint- 
ing, and sculpture, we are not without substantial claims ; nor in mechanical ge- 
nius and inventive .enterprize. The Steam-Boats, bc:u- honorable testimoriy to this ; 
and the many excellent mills, and improved machinery every where springing 
into existence, with other successful efibrts, must fully justify all our pretensions. 
And posterity will be enabled to distinguish the present age as exuberant of ge- 
nius, and ai-tists, of deserved celebrity. A new impulse is impai-ted to original 
g-enius, its energies are aroused from mental servility, and no longer repose in 

* Sailing on a common course ice fail to notice the counter-cuvpents, till s.'dpxvreck 
ivitk all its horrors, stares us in the face : Jl'ould any obsei've the coiirse and the secret 
impdses that sway, let him stand alone on the land. Our ship sails xvith a csnvoy, say 
tack party ; and party ivelfare is paramount to national, loken engag-ed in party contro- 
versies. The angry passions are excited and fed by tlie prnjiigacy of politicalrjarjare, and 
the arts of its agents, lulio feed a devouring fame. iVell conducted public journals, may 
contribute largely to public intelligence, -.uhile they pror.iote harmony and disseminate 
useful information. Mut the distorted views of a^igry minds, -whils they misrepresent 
Jucts for party purposes, insensibly pervert the public SSiUimcul, till the general tniertsis 
are forgotten in the pursuit of minor objects. 



40 GENERAL X lEW OF NEW-YORK. 

the arts oi" iiTiitation. Among' the illustrious political fathers of the Ainerican re- 
public, biograjihy will record man}' re^'erecl names from this State, whose menxo- 
rics will die but- with the history of their country. 

Regents or the Unitersitt. In 1784, an Unive-rsity was instituted m this 
state. In 1787, a re])eal of that act took place, by a new act of institution, un- 
der the title of the "Regents of the University of the State of iNTev-York." This 
was merely a literary society of 21 ■tccntlenien, appointed to superintend the in- 
terests of literature, and invested with acief[uate powers. By several amendato- 
ry acts, their powers have been somewliat extended ; and they now have the 
distribution of considerable sums of money among- the literary institutions of 
the state. The Governor and I^ieut. Governor, are members cx-officio. The o- 
ther Reg'ents are appointed by the Le,a:islature, and vacancies are so filled. They 
choose a Chancellor, and Vice-Chancellor of the University, from their own num- 
ber, who preside at their meeting's. They are a corporate bod}^, have a com- 
mon seal, and appoint a Treasurer and a Secretary, who keeps a journal of all 
their doing's. It is their duty to visit all the colleges, academies and schools ; 
to inspect the system of education, their state and discipline, and make year- 
1)' report thereof to the Legislature : to visit each college once in each year ; 
to make by-laws, to appoint Presidents thereof in case of vacancy, ard Princi- 
pals of academies, and report also to the Lcg-islature. They meet annually at 
the Assembly chamber, on the second Thursday after the annual meeting of the 
Legislature, and as often thereafter as occasion shall require. The}- are autho-. 
riscd to incorporate coUeg'es and academies, to confer degrees bj' l)iplorfla, of a 
higher order than jMaster of Arts, and Medical degrees, and to apply the funds 
of the Institution, in such manner as they sliall think most conducive to the in- 
terests of literature, and the advancement of useful knowledge witliin tliis state. 
The Regents ai'e therefore, the literary and scientific censors of this state, and 
the ir.stitution has been of extensive use. Agreeable to their last Report, tliey 
liad received the regular returns from 20 of the incorporated Academies, and Co- 
lum.bia and Union Colleges, all in prosperous circumstances. The funds which 
they distribute, amount to about 2,00U dollars annually, among the academies. 
Academies' not reporting-, pi-ecludts them from a sliare in this distribution. No 
new academies are incorporated imtil endowed with a permanent fund, pi'odu- 
cing an annual revenue of 100 dollars : and initil incorporated, draw no dividend 
of the monies distributed by the Regents. They have also resolved that no Col- 
lege shall be estaldished until endowed with permanent funds amountin.g to 
50,000 dollars, yielding an annual income of 3,500 dollars. The Regents have 
power to erect colleges from academics, whenever they think proper to do so, 
authorising the trustees to choose a President. No Iteligious test can be re- 
quired of Presidents or Pi-ofessors. No Regent can be a President, or Trustee, 
or Principal of any College or Academy in this state. 

Education. No topic of geographic detail is more important than that which 
relates to education — the nursery of learning and knowledge, of habits and man- 
ners, modes of thinking and acting, both intellectual and mural, and which last 
as long- as life. At this age of history, none can doubt that the best instructed 
comnuiuitics are the most happy, and the least turbulent and indocile. The 
great desideratum of knowledge, whether in the moral or political world, is to 
promote individual ha,ppiness : and those are the best proiicients in learning, 
v.lio contribute most to the g'enei-al dihiision of its lights. 

Ry relierring to the article Revence and Expenses, it will be seen that an 
accumulating- fund, appropriated to the advancement of common-school learn- 
ing-, amounts to about halt a niillion of dollars, and produces an annual revenue 
of 36,000 dollars.- — ^ most libeial provision — and it is devoutiy to be wished 
that the method of its^ application may be worthy the enlightened policy of 
the appropriation. Fortlie lights so widely diffused by modern literature, we 
arc not so much indebted no original efforts of the human mind, as to a thirst 
lor classic fame. And wiiile we have been cultivating our acquaintance with 
the Grecian and Roman Classics, through a long succession of ages, this foreign 
origin has had a very serious inlluence on the progress of mocieru knowk!dge. 
As tiiese supplied the materiads, so tliey have the form of our studied compo- 
sitions. xJ^ut they were good models, and it only occasions regret by loo great 
a wa&l'c of time aud talents devoted to mere imitation. And this uutluiiiiisnx 



GENER.\JL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 41 

for ancient lore, so coinmendrtble in soine, has engrossed too general attention ; 
for but few minds are org-anized for critical learning on so broad a scale : nor 
can it be proper for all to neglect present times, for investigation of the past, 
and withdraw tlie energ-les of mind from present objects. Such, however, was 
too long the case, thi'ough the influence of the learned, who became a separate 
order of men ; — and while that philoso]jhy despised the common affairs of com- 
mon iTien, science was of course confined within the walla of a cloiste^-, the col- 
lege ; — or veiled in mystery by the abstract speculations of leai-ned metaphy- 
sicians, to the entire exclusion of the great mass of the people. By an 
affected display of foreign learning, the use of fn'eign languages became a mat- 
ter of course ; and useful enquiry, thus superceded by b.'u-ren speculation, ne- 
cessarily debari'ed the public access, and closed the doors of knowledge on the 
world. With a vast fund of forei.gn literature, the learned had less acquain- 
tance witii the language, the history and genius of their own country, tlian that 
herd of common men whom they so much despised. Hence, thi'Ough the pedant- 
ry of learning, the chief energies of the human mind were withdrawn fronj 
science, and reason left to grope its way in the darkness of ignorance. The 
common iveople must take their opinions from the Icai-ned, who even labored to 
envelope me stores of scripture knowledge, in the inexplicable mystery and non- 
sensical jargon of the schools. None were permitted to read, and much less to 
expound the sacred writings, but tlie learned ; — and v/nen reason and common 
sense are thus proscribed, and wiien learned disputation usurps the right of 
refiedtion, fanaticism and gross superstition have a foremost rank on the dark 
catalogue of natural consequences. But, h-ippily for mankind, the revolutions of 
stiites first broke, throug-h terril?le oonvulsions, the chains of learned tjTanny ; — 
and taught the world that common concerns were proper subjects for common 
observation and stutly, which opened the way for a dilfusion of knowledge. It 
is the prerogative of man, not only to think, but to think methodically ; to pre- 
serve an oriler in his ideas, a successive train in his mind. And philosophy is 
never better emphned than wlien aiding to diffuse the lights of learning and 
knowledge over the world. None will deny the importance of ancient literature, 
nor doubt the pi'opriety of an acquaintance with tl^e stores of ancient knowledge ; 
but Aviierefore, smce we have fully availed ourselves of these, continue the prac- 
tice in perpetual succession, of such a sacrifice of time ? Are the Imnian pow- 
ers so vastly enlarged, that v/e have mental stores for the sport of idle profu- 
sion ? Or does the acquisition of useful learning, present a field of sufficient 
amplitude ? It is the province of education to determine on these matters ; as 
also, what is useful. In general, that is individually so, vdilch subserves the 
immediate purposes of life. Then what is the grade of talents, and the sphere 
of action, determines tlie choice : and happy is it for man to" conform to these 
dictates. The God of nature has variously endov/'ed our minds — and perfect e- 
qualit_v exists only in natural rights. Tiie public health is inseparably connec- 
ted with individual happiness, and this with utility. The education should, there- 
fore, be adapted to the jnirsuits in life, and tiie sjihere of action. More than this, 
is productive of evil — less, is ignorance. x\nd after all that learning boasts, the 
unlettered are often the best instructors of the learned. In modes of thinking, 
original energy of mind has been maturing its powers, while learned folly was 
busy with his books ; and thus it too often liappens that the lettered pedant must 
j'ield, in the real treasures of knowledg'e, to the unlettered sage. The gift of rea- 
S(m has hardly drawn a broader line of distinction between man and beast, than 
the exercise of it, between man and man. That period is probably still remote, 
Wiien the state of learning, of knowledge, and general intelligence, can be fairly 
estimated bj- the prodxictiuns of tlie press. Tliat vmiversal benevolence wiilch the 
gospel inculcates, should prompt all to entleavor tiiat the blessings which we en- 
joy, should be extended to all — and that the lights of science, like those of hea- 
ven, should extend to universal diffiision. 

At present, the modes of common-school instruction in this ■'tate, are liable to many 
objections. In tins respect, we are considerably behind the New-Eng'land states, 
who have reduced this branch of education to a system. But their method is 
rapidly gaining ground, and common schools have considerably increased in num- 
ber and respectability within a feM' years. And this amelioration is more percep- 
tible in the country, than in populous towns, where oui' sciiools, for the elements 
ef a common education, are not so ijood as in the country. Tiie wealthy, spare 



42 GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 



no expense in the education of their sons, principally at academies and colleges; 
though some continue the practice of former times, having- private tutors in their 
families. The yeomanry, and the ranks of middling wealth, resort to day and 
boarding-schools ; the most common kind being the former, supported either 
through the year, or only, in winter. And too little attention is paid to the quali- 
fications of instructors. "Where good elementary schools are lilierally supported, 
few graduates from universities and colleges can be found, who do not understand 
the orthography of the language of their country. The nidimcnts of an English, 
education, forming no part of the plan of instruction in higher schools, should be 
restricted to the elementary ones, where a thoroug-h acquaintance ouglit to be ac- 
quired, at least with tiie spelling-book, that little thing- regarded as too insignifi- 
cant for the notice of the favorites of fortune. Unhappily for those, the mind of 
man rises to knowledge by a series of gradations ; from particular and minute, to 
Miorc general — from parts to systems — from systems, his views may embrace a 
world. Some of our best scliolars have received a liberal education under the pri- 
vate care of an approved tutor, passing- to his care from the elementary schools ; 
and for those who design an expensive education as a mean of acquiring know- 
ledge, no plan seems preferable to this, tliough not calculated for general use. 
The recent introduction of schools on the plan of the benevolent Lancaster, pro- 
mise very beneficial results to the poor in populous tov/ns. At jjresent, these are 
confined to the cities of New-York and Albariy, and their patrons may be regarded 
as benefactors, entitled to the gratitude of the community. 

Femule education, is liable to the same objections in general, or is subject to 
the same i-emarks, being governed by a similarity of views and circumstances with 
that of tlie sons, among the different classes of the comjnunity. The rich, spare no 
expense, and much time is spent in the frivolous accomplishments of a genteel 
education, to little purpose. Music and di'awlng, except in cases of decided pro- 
pensity, are of little ornament, and less utility ; though they may amuse the idle, 
expand the mind formed for expansion, and afford elegant and agreeable diversion, 
when cultivated with taste. Dancing, practised with elegance, is a pleasing-, and 
very innocent diversion, common in all classes of society. And French Professors 
of language, dress, address, and dancing-, are much better paid than the New-Eng- 
land teachers of psabnod}-, and other music. But, with the improved polish of 
this age, though it has certainly added to the gracefulness and ease of our man- 
ners, yet a fashionable, a genteel education is rather calculated for perennial 
youth, than the certiiin prog-ressive mutations of age. Though if this generation 
produce less of dojucstic wortJi in tlie sober age of womanhood, it may take some 
consolation from the prettier pictures it has produced to decorate the walls. And 
a perfect similarity in education, habits, and pursuits in life, is as little desirable 
as perfect equality. To the opulent, belong diirerent habits in some degree, from 
those of mere competency ; and tlie indigent must better their fortunes by indus- 
try. The good country mother who blesses her family, occupied in the labors of 
iigriculture, by household frug-alitj-, temperance, industry ; — and at length yields to 
the fashion of the 'Squire's family, sends her daughters to town for their educa- 
tion, will find in her good old age, tliat education, and the scenes of life wliere it 
lias been acquired, fix the habits, the turn of mind for lite ; — and that her pride 
and judgment have been at unprofitable v.Ti-iance. Luxury, is a reigning passion 
of the age, though not by any means so pecvdiar to this, aa some would imagine. 

There arc some Free, Cltarit^, and Boardoig' Schools in New-York, respectably 
spoken of, and several boarding schools in other parts of the state entitled to no- 
tice. Of these, the Friends', or Quakers', in Washington, Dutchess county, is pro- 
bably the largest ; and public opinion has given it a very respectable character. 
It was opened in 1797, and usually has about 100 scholars. 

Acaht.'mies. There are a few Grammar Schools, of considerable promise, and 
about 45 Academies. Tlie following list is composed of s-ucli as are incorporated, 
and v.'hich, by conforming to the i-equisitions, were included by the Regents in the 
annual distribution of their i'unds, agreeable to the report of 1811. The amount 
was 2000 dollars, apporti(mcd according to their respective numbers of students, &c. 
To Fairfield Academy, in Herkimer Co., ^jlO^ ; Kingston, Ulster Co., §150 ; New- 
bui-gh. Orange Co., glOO ; Union Hall, §100 ; Caiiandaigua, Outurlo Co., §100 ; 
Lowville, Lewis Co., fSlOO ; Oyster-B;',v, Q.'aeens Co., %75 ; Hudson, Cohmibia Co., 
.glOO ; Uallston, Saratoga Co., 'glOO ; Ilarailton-Oneidn, Oneida Co., gl25 ; Cayuga, 
Cai-uga Co., glOO ; MoDtgojncry, O.-angc Co., %75 ; Ei-usmus-Hall, Ivings Co., S^^^^t 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 45, 



Cherry-Valley, Otsego Co., glOO ; Catskill, Greene Co., g75 ; Clinton, 
Dutchess, Dutchess Co., gl50 ; Johnstown, Montg-omcry Co., ^75 ; Lansi^srbure-liI 
Kensselaer Co., ^75 ; and Farmers' Hall, J^IOO. Beside these, there ai-e many 
similai- institutions in different parts of the state. 

From the incorporated Academics, scholars are admitted into the various classes 
of the Colleges, according- to their respective qualifications, on examination by the 
president and professors ; but the privileg-es of this course, are confined to such 
academies as conform their discipline and course of instruction to the discretion of 
the Regents. Bythis system of regulation, the scholars pass, in due time, to the 
colleges, also subject to the discretion of the Regents : whose ample powers and 
the distribution of considerable funds, give to this Court of Literature, a hi"h and 
useful ascendanc3^ 

The UxivF.nsiTT of Neav-Yohk, may now assume a rank with the most respecta- 
ble institutions of this kind, on the American continent. Indeed Columbia Col- 
iF.GE, has claimed a high reiDutation ; and some new regulations of the Leo-islature 
and the Regents, have connectedthe various schools under new and beneficial modi- 
fications. Columbia college, is of ancient date ; the first charter was given by Go- 
vernor Dclancey, October 31, 1754, and the institution called Kings's CoIIc'e. It 
was desig-ned i'or the education of youth in the learned languages, and in the arts 
and sciences. With the increase of I'evenue, successive improvements have been 
introduced, and the plan enlarged. In 1787, the Legislature of this state, by a 
modification of the charter, ga-\e the institution the name of Colum.bia college, and 
placed it under the care of 24 trustees, confirming the powers of the government- 
Originally, its funds were collected by subscriptions, and voluntary donations. 
Tlie Episcopal church and congregation in New-York, were among the most libe- 
ral of its benefactors. Joseph MurK.y, Esq., a fii-st trustee, and an eminent coun- 
sellor at law, left his library and fortune to this college, amounting to about 
^25,000. Since the peace, large appropriations have been made by the state, and 
the annual revenue is now about S400U. Under these successive extensions and 
improvements, there have been two faculties established in this college. 

The Facility of the ^^rts, consists of the president, proiessor of moral philoso- 
phy ; a professor of classical literature, who also lectures on Grecian and Roman 
antiquities ; a professor of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy, who 
also teaches geography and chronology; and a professor of logic, rhetoric, belles- 
lettres, &c. 

The FamUtj of Plnjsic, agreeable to the new arrangement which annexes tlie 
college of physicians and surgeons to t'le uaivei-sity, has a joint professorship of 
anatomy, surgery and physiology ; a professor of the theory and practise oi"physic 
and clinical medicine ; a professor of chemistiy ; of obstetrics and the diseases 
of wo7nen and children ; of therapeutics, and clinical medicine ; of the institutes 
of medicine ; of natiu'al history ; of medical jurisprudence ; and of mineralogy and 
pharmacy. 

The Elgin Botanic Garden, in the vicinity of New-York, now the property of the 
state, is entrusted to the care of the trustees of the college of physicians and sur- 
g'eons, by direction of the Regents. I'his establishment, purchr.std expressly for 
tlie purpose of promoting medical science, constitutes an important addition t« 
the means of accjuiring knowledge in every departiricnt of science. And it form* 
an appendage to our schools, honorable to the character of the state. 

The College of Physicians and Suiigeons, grew out of a medical school estab- 
lished by some private gentlemen, as early as 1769, who delivered lectures to m 
considerable number of students. Among its 'patrons, was the venerable Dr. 
B:'.rd, now president of this college. After the war, the plan v/as revived by indi- 
vidual enterprize ; and in 1792 the present medical school was organized and ap- 
pended to Columbia college. In 1791, tlie regents were authorized by act of the 
Legislature to erect a college of physicians and surgeons within this state ; but 
tliey did not exercise that power till 1807 : and in 18U8, 20,000 dollai's were gran- 
ted by the state for the use of that college. Unhappy feuds existing among the 
professors, and rival jealousies, rendered the institution less respectable and pros- 
perous than- was expected. From 1793 to 1810, but 34 graduates received the de- 
gree of doctor of medicine : and the friends of learnhig- became convinced of a 
radical error in the organization of the schools. Not only the literary character of 
the state was dctj;ly aifecttd, but the reputation of the liegeut* and other friends 



44 GENERAX. VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 

of science, was at stake, and likely to suffe. by existing- evils. The ival medical 
schools of Philadelphia, durin.r? the same period, had been very prosperous, and 
obtained a high celebrity tliat extended their fame over the world ; yielding: only 
to those of Edinburgh. The subject was deeply interesting-; and in seekhig a 
remedy for existing evils, the experience of those schools furnished a guide. 

The' Botanic Garden in New-York, had recently been p\u"chased by the state ; 
and the Regents of the University, after deliberate investigation, proposed a re- 
modeling of the institution, combining the Medical School Qt Columbia College 
with that of the College of Pb.ysicians and Surgeons, and erecting some new pro- 
fessorships, with a new list of officers and professors The design was to combine 
the talents of both schools, to place them on a more respectable footing ; and, un- 
der the more immediate care and patronage of the liegcnts and the Legislature, to 
foster the intei-ests of the University. The list of Professorships which I iiave 
given, is taken from the minutes of the Regents of the University, of April 1, 1811. 
The government of this (College is vested in Trustees appointed i)y the Regents, 
who may not exceed 25 in number, and to which government belong also, a Trea- 
surer and Secretarj'. The former professors and members, are constituted Fellows, 
with all the privileges and means of public instruction ; and the Trustees have pow- 
er to elect other Fellows, to the same privileges. The Regents have also placed 
the Botanic Garden under the care of these Trustees. 

Agreeable to the last Report of the Regents, Columbia College was entitled to 
its former high standing, and had 103 students ; — 25 in the Senior class, 28 in the 
Junior, 36 in the Sophmore, and 14 in the Freshman class. The degree of M. D., 
was conferred on 8 voung gentlemen, by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
in May, 1811. 

The College edifice is of stone, three stories high, with four staircases, and 12 
apartments m each story ; a chapel, hall, library, museum, an anatomical theatre, 
and lecture rooms. Large additions have lately been made to the chemical appa- 
ratus, a laboratory has been erected and the lecture rooms enlarged. The Philoso- 
phical apparatus, is extensive and valuable, and for the purposes of mechani- 
cal philosophy, and astronomy, well adapted; — large additions have lately been 
made to the library. The edif.ce stands on a gn-avelly eminence, between the Park 
and Hudson river,' wliich it overlooks, commujidiiig a line prospect of York harbor, 
the town, and surrounding country. 

Uxiox CoLXT.Gr., at Schenectady, was incorporated by the Regents in 1794, and 
took its nam.e from the union of v'ai-ious religious denominations in its establish- 
ment, though the nutch were its most liberal benefactors. It is placed under the 
direction of 24 Trustees. The principal officers of state, are ex-officio members 
of its board of Trust. This institution is liberally endowed by private munificence, 
and by that of the state. Its funds, togetlier with the expense of building, and ap- 
pendages of the institution, exceed 2U'J,000 dollars. There are three college edi- 
fices belonging to the institution ; one of which is of stone, one of brick, and one 
of wood; affording accommoda lions for about 150 students. The President, Pro- 
fessors and Tutoi-s, constitute the faculty. There are now, a professorship of the 
Greek language; one of the I ;atin language, and one of the French, Spanisli, and 
Italian languages. Also a Pr(,l(;ssor.ship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy ; 
and one ofllhetoric and Chemistry The Museum is in its infimcy. The Philoso- 
phical apparatus is very respectable ; and the Library contains about 500U volumes ; 
besides which, thei-e are two fjociety libraries, containing 2000 vols, eacli. The 
number of students, is now about 130. For admission into the Freshman class, it is 
necessary to read, construe and parse Virgil's iEneid; Cicero's select orations, the 
(Jreek te'stament, and to understand English Grammar and Arithmetic. The stu- 
dies of the Freshman year are Xenopbont Horace, Cicero's oflices, ahd Arithmetic: 
Of the Sophmore year, tJeography, Sheridan's lectures, Logic, Cicero de Oratore, 
Collectanea ^Minora ct IMajora, aiid Euclids' Elcment.s : of the Junior year, Tacitus, 
Longinus, Moral PhJlo.sophy, Blair's Lectures, Locke, Algebra, Trigonometry, 
Mensuration, Surveying, Navigation, and Conic Sections : of tlie Senior year. Ho- 
mer, Kaim's Elements Criticism, Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, Chemist' y, and 
Stuart's Philosophy of the Human Mind. The Collegiate year, is divided into three 
sessions, and the ainuial commencement is on the fourth Wednesday in July. The 
3'early expense of the stutleuts, including books, is about §115.* Students under 

* niietlwr it be goad pcliaj to reduce the expenses of a CoUe^iate editcntion so lav; 
rtmaius to he Imrnt. 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 45 

f)ecuniary embarrassments, are furnished with books gratis, and their tuition is 
paid from a fund provided by the state. The system oi" g-overnment is strict ; the 
officers reside within the College territoiy. 

The plan of the institution, is that of a literary seclasion. The youth are seclu* 
ded from intercourse with the town, nor may they leave the Coileg-e yard, except 
in hours allotted for recreation. Honors arc distributed to meritorious students. 
Those of a different character are liable to fines, admonition, rustication, suspen.> 
fiion oi- expulsion. Transgressions of the laws, and neglects of collegiate duties, are 
minuted, and copies transmitted to the parents or guardians, at the close of eacli 
term. Before any studf^nt can become a member of the Institution, he must first 
remain one term on, probation. * This institution is in a flourishing condition -, and 
it may with just pride be reckoned among the most promising and I'espectable in 
the Union. 

From the j. receding details it will be clearly seen that the means of acquiring a 
liberal education in this state, are ample, and the institutions of a most i'espectable 
character, much to the honor of the state and its agents. With such a system of 
superintcndance of literature, and revisal of the modes of instruction ; together 
with an acknowledged ascendancy in professors and teachers of eminent worth and 
attainments, we can but anticipate the happiest results. No hostility to literature, 
prompts the remarks under this article, wiiich may by some be so construed — but 
mere literature, is too often rendered useless, and even worse, by injudicious se- 
lection. And though this form no good objection to its accpiirement and use, it 
ought to excite to greater care in choosing the subjects. jMany a v/eak head is 
turned by the mazes and labyrinths of ancient literature, and the ridiculous fables 
and fancies of Heathen mythologies. Aspiring to higher sources, sougiit for dis- 
tinction only, the student returns from Greece and Rome, laden with notions be- 
yond his comprehension ; and while the principles of education, and of christian 
morality are lost in indiscriminate absorption, his usefulness is destroyed for life* 
Kone but superior minds, can tread, \\ ithout injury, the devious and intricate paihs 
of classic pilgrimage ; while such may still find intellectual stores and hidden ti-ea- 
sures, in the rellcks of dead languages, and of extinct nations. The object of lit- 
erature, is to open to the mind the. stores of knowledge, by presenting a field for 
the exercise of all its powers. And all that I would contend for, is the general 
propriety of adapting this field to the ability for intellectual culture ; with merely 
observing that English literature affords sufllcient scope for ordinary capacities, 
and for t!ie far greater niunber of those in the ordinary pursuits of Hie. To such 
as possess no uncommon share of intellect, nor decided propensity for literature, 
a good English education opens a field of sufficient amplitude. And while this, 
Avliich proves sufficient for tlie purposes of life to a large majority of the whole, 
sufficiently occupies the intellect, it is perfectly evident that a wider ran^e, by di- 
viding attention, must weaken that vigor of effort, which ensures success. None 
are formed for actual excellence in all attainments ; and learning, undigested in 
the mind, without ])eculiar arrangement, forms useless lumber there — a greater 
mass of indistinct ideas and half recollected, half forgotten impressions, of little 
or no service. 

BoTASjc GARr.r,Tf. The Elgin Botanic Garden, in the city of New-York, the first 
institution of the kind In the United States, is now the property of the state, ha- 
ving bccii purchased agreeable to an act of the Legislature of 1810, and conveyed 
by deed during that summer. Among the dlstinguislied friends and patrons of 
science in this state, a common sentiment had long prevailed, friendly to tlie es- 
tablishment of a Botanic Garden. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made 
to engag'c public aid for this purpose ; and their having- failed, wliile it detracts 
nothing from the reputation of the state, has ensured a better success to the insti- 
tution, growing up under the zealous efforts of individual enterprize, which will 
ensure lasting fame to its principal founder. In 1792, a distinct professorship of 
Botany was established In Columbia collcg-e ; and Dr. Mitchill, who was chosen 
professor, continued in that place until his resignation in 1793. During tliese pe- 
riods, the friends of science had publicly advocated the establishment of a Botanic 
Garden, and the Agricultiu-al society of the state, of which the members of the 
Legislature were ex-officio members, had entered the decided opinion of that 
body on its journal for 1794. f On the resignation of Dr. IMitchilJ, Dr. Da- 
vid Hosack, was appointed professor of Botany ; and on the death of Dr. Smith, 
in 179o, joint professor of Botany and Materia Medica in Columbia college. The 

* MS. Letters, 1811. + V. p. xxxix, 4to., Introduction, Vol. 1. 

7 



4g GENEUAL view of NEW-tOTlK^. 



experience, of four years, only confirmed his opinions of the inadequacy of the pre- 
sent facilities to the important objects of his department. And in 1801, having 
failed in all attempts for public aid, the zeal and enterprize of Dr. llosack, deter- 
mined him to attempt the establishment on his own account. Accordingly he pur- 
chased 20 acres of y,Tound of the corporation of New-York, situated on the middle 
road between Bloomingdale and Kingsbridge, three ftnd a half miles from that 
cit)'. The soil is diversified, and peculiarly well adapted to the cultivation of a 
great variety of plants. The whole was immediately enclosed by a stone wall, and 
put in the best state for ornamental gardening ; and a conservatory erected for the 
preservation of the more hardy green-house plants. A primai-y object Avas to ciil- 
tivate the native plants, possessing any valuable properties, found in this country ; 
and in 1805, this establishment contained about 1500 valuable native plants, be- 
side a considerable number of rare and valuable exotics. In 1806, it contained in 
successful Cultivation, 150 different kinds of grasses,-}- an important article to J^ 
:igricUltural people. This enumeration includes the varieties of wheat, rye, oat$j 
barley, rice, and the meudov/ and other grasses, all being so denominated in the 
language of Botan3^ A portion of gTOund was set apart for agriculbiral experi- 
ments ; and all the friends to experimental science and a diffusion of knowledge, 
saw that the institution promised all that had been expected from it; and that the 
professor's knowledge and genius were occupied on a congenial field. But to his 
purse, he found the burden inconveniently heavy ; and in 1810, offered the garden 
to the state, at a fair valuation. This application was accom.panied by memorials 
from the state ]Medical Society, the corporation of New-York, the governors of the 
New-York Hospital, several of the county Medical societies, and many eminent pri- 
vate gcntleljien, recommending the purchase. In March, an act passed, authori- 
sing the purchase for the state, under the direction of the commissioners o£A^ 
I'jund Oi?ice, who appointed a committee to make the appraisal under oath. Tiie 
committee accordingly returned their estimate at g49,968. 75, for the garden, be- 
ing 2,500 dolls, per acre, and §24,300, for the buildings. These buildings and im- 
provements, consisted of hot-bed frames, the conservatory or green-house and its 
uppendage-s, the dwcHing-house, hot-hoiiscs, kc., lodges, gates, fences, &c. Tlje 
committee estimated tiie delay of payment under the act, equivalent to five a^jd a 
half years, and reported a valuation under these circumstances, of ^103,137.- . Jiut 
the commissioners excluded the commutation, and accepted the deed at §74,268.75. 
The valuation was to exclude all plants, trees, shrubs, gai-den tools, 8cc. These 
liave since been estimated by competent judges, at upwards of 12,600 dolls. — and 
by a botanist, at 14,380 dollars. 

' The view from the most elevated part of Elgin ground, is extensive and varie- 
gated. The aspect of the groimd, is a gentle slope to the E. and S. The whole is 
enclosed by a well constructed stone wall, lined all round by a belt of forest trees 
and shrubs. The conservatory and hot-houses present a front of 180 feet. The 
various allotments of gi'ound, are chosen with as much taste as g'ood judgment for 
tlie varied culture ; — .ind the rocky summit, the subsiding plain,, and the little pool, 
have each their appropriate products. The herbarium, the kitchen garden, the 
nursery of choice fruits from all quarters and climes, and the immense collection 
of botanical subjects elegan I ly arranged and labelled,, display the industry, taste 
und skill of a master. A very extensive Botanical library belongs to the late pro- 
prietor, who is now a professor in che University, and delivers a summer course of 
lectures on Botany. In 1806, a catalogue of the plants was published by the foun- 
der, when they amounted to about 2,000, native and exotic. A new edition has re- 
cently been published by that gcntknian, vritli a full catalogue of all the plants 
cultivated in that establishment, arranged in alphabetical order. i; In this arc gi- 
ven the generic and specific names of Linnarus, the synonyms of various authors 
with their names attaciied, and the popular appellations of the whole. The garden 
is now committed to the superintendancc of the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, witliout anj' charge to the state. 

Ba:sks. There are in tliis state, 15 Barking companies, with an enormous amount 
of capital stock. During the annual session of the Legislature, in 1811, a " Commit- 
tee, appointed to i-e]Jort the amount of capital authorised bj- law, in this state, 
lljiPOiiT, that the capital allowed to the bank of Ncw-\ork, in the act of incorpo- 
ration, is §1,050,000;— to the bank of Albany, §280,000; bank of Columbia, at 
llud.son, §](SO,000; Manhattan b.ank, including the expense of supplying the city 

f r. iJ-^vcvnor's Spcci-/i, 1806. i HiL'ords, jV. }. 1811, 65 pa^es; iivo. 



©ENERxiL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 



.of N. York with water, §2,000,000 ; Farmers' bank, at Troy, §300,000 ; New-York 
State bank, at Albany, g460,000; Merchants' bank, at New-York, §1,350,000 ; Mo- 
hawk bank, at Schenectady, §200,000 ; bank of Hudson, §300,000 ; Mechanics' 
bank, in N. York, §1,500,000; making in all §7,490,000. In seyeral of tlie origi- 
nal acts for incorporating the aboye banks, a right wiis reserved to the state to 
subscribe certain sums, and the capital of such banks was to be encreased to the 
amount of the sums so to he subscribed.'"* The committee further state that tliey 
haye not ascertained the amount actually subscribed by the state, but that tbe 
permission exceeds 400,000 dollars, the most of which is subscribed. " The acts 
incorporating the banks of this state, with the exception of the Manhattan bank, 
declare, that the total amoimt of all debts which the said corporations shall at 
any time severally owe, over and above the monies then actually deposited in the 
bank, shall not exceed three limes the sura of capital stock subscribed and actual- 
ly paid into the bank. Thus, thci'efore; the bills which may legally be issued and 
circulated by the above banks, exceed 23,000,000 dollars."f During the session 
of 1811, and after the date of the above report, the Union bank in the city of N. 
York was incorporated, with a capital stock of §1,800,000 ; the Mechanics' and 
Farmers' banlc, in Albany, capital stock §600,000; with a right reserved to the 
state to subscribe for sli-ires to the amount of 40,000 dolls, making 640,000 dolls. ; 
the Troy bank, capital §500,000, with a like right of 50,000 dolls, to the state, 
making 550,000 dolls.; the bank of New-Burgh, capital stock §400,000, do. to the 
state of 50,000, making 450,000 dollars ; the Middle District bank, at Poughkccp- 
sle, capital stock §500,000, with a right reserved to the state to subscribe for 
.stock to the amount of 50,000, making 550,000 dollars ; with a branch bank for 
.•diecount and deposit at Kingston : 7 of the 21 directors are to be chosen from Ul- 
ster county. The capital stock of the Mechanics' bank in New- York, was also en- 
creased 500,000; and the bank of Hudson authorised to establish a branch for dis- 
count and deposit in the village of Catskill. The actual capital stock of banking* 
companies, was thus encreased during that session,, §4,300,000; and when the 
state shall have subscribed its shares, which amount to 190,000 dollars, tjie ag'- 
gregate increase will amoimt to 4,49(.),000 dollars If to tliat sum be added th« 
amoimt of stock above reported by the committee, ol' 7,490,000 dollars, we hav« 
11,790,000 dollars, as banking capital stock ; — to this we may add §400,000 princi- 
pally subscribed ; and 190,000 dolls, reserved to be subscribed l)y the state, which 
then make an aggregate of bank stock authorised in this state, of 12,380,000 dolls. 
This amount, assuming the same ratio, authorises the emission and circulation of 
bank bills, to the enormous amount of 37,140,000 dollars ; or 35,370,000, exclusive 
of stock owned by the state. 

The Manhattan bank, has established a branch for discount and deposit atUtiq-a. 
The bank of Troy, has 17 directors, 3 of which are appointed by and on behalf.'jf 
the state : the remaining 14 are apportioned, G to Troy, 4 to Lansingburgh, and 4 
to Waterford, chosen from the stockholders. The president is elected from, the 
number of directors. 

If the whole amount of bank stock were subscribed, paid in, and bills issued to 
Ihe extent of the charters, the amount of paper currency in circulation v.ou'd 
exceed 38 1-2 dollars to each individual in the state. This description of money 
forms a much more convenient medium of trade than specie; ajid the immense com- 
mercial operations of this state have been great.ly facilitated by banks, while they 
in their turn have been indebted to commerce for their uniform prosperity and ex- 
tensive credit. While none but comTiierclal jtatcs can derive any benefit fi-om the 
banking system, it seems pretty clear that to those, banks are almost indispensa- 
ble to the public health. The revenue produced to this state in 1810, for divi- 
dends on the profits of bank stock owned by the state m 7 banks, amounted to 
§33,323.62. In those banks where the state owns stock, a right is reserved to ap- 
point a number of directors, proportioned to tlie amount of stock; thus identliying- 
the government with its monled institutions. Several of tlie principal officers of 
state are ex-officlo directors, in the banks of the capital where they reside. I'he 
Comptroller is authorised to draw on all banks and otlier companies and institu- 
tions, in which the state omus stock, for all dividends and profits declared due to 

* licport, Feb. 15, 1811. -j- Ibid. Though the pvhiciplc ua.sumed hi/ this report seems 
incorrect, or deficient in knowledge, yet as 1 must co7ifo!-m to it, so J choose to pursue 
the principle -ciihotit alteration in the ^vhole suriunarii'. Banking men ivill rsadili' eee 
.ry there be anj/ error, and -whurt! it originiUiiv 



48 GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 

the state, which is placed to the credit of tlie treasury. It appears by the Comp- 
troller's last report, that the state then owned §387,300 dollars of bank stock. If 
this species of stock 1 e equally productive to other ])roprietors, tlie annual divi- 
dends in this state, of clear profits, amount to gljOSSj^To ; on the supposition that 
12 millions of stock are now actually emploj'ed in the business of tlie several banks, 
thoug-h it probably falls considerably short of this amount. How this circulation 
shall be sustained, and what the policy of recent extension, can only be seen Ijv 
experience. For commercial facilit}^, while it call for banks, must somewhere de- 
' fine their limitations, lest cupidity and too splendid success should ultimately en- 
danger the whole sj'stem. Nor are public bodies exempted from the individual 
errors of private action. 

Insurance Companies. Thei'e are 11 incorporated insurance companiesin this state. 
The United InstiroTice Company, in tlie city of New-York, was incorporated in 1798; 
with a capital of ^500,000. The J^e^u-York 'Insurance Company, incorporated 1798; 
capital ^5500,000. Tlie Columbian Insurance Company, in N. Y., incorporated 1801; 
capital ^500,000. The Marine Insurance Company, in N. Y., incorporated 1802 ; 
capital S250,GOO. The Commercial Insurance Company, m N. Y., incorporated 1805; 
capital §500,000. The Mutual Assurance Company, in N. Y., incorporated 1798 ; 
T\\e Ea^-le Fire Company, in N. Y., incorporated 1806; capital g500,000. The 
Washington Mutual Assurance, in N. Y., incorporated 1802. The J\e~iv-York Fire- 
Men Insurance Cornpany, incoi'porated 1810 ; capital §1,000,000. The Hudson In- 
mirance Company, incorporated in 1811 ; capital §200,000. The Albany Insurance 
Compaiiy, incorporated in 1811 ; capital §500,000. And tlie Phenix Fire Company 
f;/'7,or7f/o7(, have established a branch office in New-York, with apents in the prin- 
cipal towns. Tlie objects of these institutions, is insurance ag-ainst losses by fire, 
by sea, S;c. ; in consideration of the papnent of a small premium, varied in per- 
centage of valuation, according to the jiupposed hazards. And it is desirable that 
insurance of propertj' should become a more common practice. The several compa- 
nies liave agents in the principal towns, from whom policies of insurance are obtained. 
Were people in general better informed of tlie routine of tliis business, and the 
rates of premium, I apprehend a verj' great extension of the business of insurance 
would be tlie natural consequence, for reciprocal advantage. Nor ought the good 
citizen to forget that patriotism demands a preference for insurance in American 
companies, so long as these shall afford equal secuiity and facility •on as favora- 
ble terms. And let not cupidity meanl}' decry this remark, or attempt to stigma- 
tize considerations of national interest with the name of party and narrow-minded 
prejudice : without some national preference, we have no patriotism, Avliich consti- 
tutes one essential feature of a good citizen — without national patriotism, we cease 
to deserve a nation's name, and characte:-, and rank, amongst other nations ; and soon 

must lose our political existence. Such are my political sentiments to what 

party now in existense do these belong J — God grant us an American party, that 
shall absorb a-il minor distinctions. 

PiiooRKssiVE Population. The population, according to the census of 1800 and of 
J810, is givfl'n in the tables ; but for the purpose of a general view, will be exhibited 
here also. The earliest census, or any authenticated computation of the population 
of this state, then a British colony, which I have found, is one taken in 1731, when 
the whole tciritory whicii was then settled, was divided hito 10 counties. Tlie 
city and county of New-York, then contained 8,628 persons; Kings Co., 2,150; 
Queens Co., 7,995; SuilblkCo., 7,675; Richmond Co., 1,817; Westchester Co., 6v33i 
Orange Co., 1,969; Ulster Co., 3,7£S; Dutchess Co., 1,727; and the cijy and coun- 
ty of Alb.any, 8,573, At that time, Albany Co., comprehended all the' territory of 
the Colony, N. and W. of Dutciiess and Ulster counties, which area now contains a 
population of about 750,000 inhabitants, and near 150,(^00 freeholders. The popu- 
lation of the Colony in 1731, was therefore 50,291; of which number 7,231 were 
blacks. In 1753, Uie pojnilation was enumerated by the Sherill's of tlie several 
counties, .ind the amount was 96,765; ofwiiich number 13,542 M^ere blacks. In 
1771, the jjopulation had encreased to 163,338; in 1786, it was 238,896 ; ol' which 
18,889 were blacks. The population in 1790, was 340,120, wlien the blacks num- 
bered 21,324. In 1801, population 586,141 ; the Blacks, 20,613. In 1810, 959,220 .- 
ol tills nv!ml)er about 15,000 arc slaAcs, and tlie blacks may number, in all, 18 to 
20,UUO. Tlie increase was tliercfore, from 1731, 46,474, in '25 years; or 1858 ])er. 
sons annual average fbi' each year. In the next 15 }ears, the increase was 66,573. 
Vrom 1790 to 1800, the increase was 246,021 ; from 1800 to 1810, increase 373,079 : 
or an a\cj-.;ge annual iiicrcase, for tiic last 20 years, of 30,955 persons in tlic state ; 



GENERAL YIEW OF NEW-YORK. 49 



and during- tlie last 10 _vears, the average annual incx-case amounts to 3T,yJ7 per- 
sons, or 10.2 persons to a day! The city of Albany contains now, 1811, more per- 
sons than the whole province probably did 100 years ac^o ; and the present ponula- 
tion of the city and county of New-York, exceeds that of the whole territory of the 
state, only about 53 years since ! From some transcripts of records ; made about 
1660, there apjiears pretty g-ood (^-round for a supposition tliat the whole popula- 
tion at that time, did not exceed 5,000 persons, exclusive of Indians. By refer- 
ring' to the article Boundaries anj) Area, it will be seen tliat tlie avcrag-e pn])ula- 
tion of the whole state, is 20.8 persons to a square mile; and tlie ratios of the two 
last Gensoral returns, double the population in less than 16 years. We may safely 
venture, therefore, from these data, to compute tlie whole population of the state 
at 4 millions, by the middle of this century. 

After considerable labor to collect materials for separate enumeration of tlie se- 
veral classes of inhabitants, designated by respective occnpatior.s, I am obliged to 
omit the attempt in this edition, though I intend to pursue the design as forniin.^ 
a most important political barometer. Tliere are probably now in this state, more 
than 100,000 freeliolders ; in 1793, there were 35,333 ; iii 1801, 52,058 ; in 18:;8, 
71,159. In ir93, there were 64,071 electors ; in 1801, 85,933; in 1808, 121,348. 
In 1810, 81,488 Senatorial electors, possessed offreeliolds of the value of 250 dolls. 
In 1731, there were but 10 counties in this state ; in 1786, 12 ; in 1791, 20; in 1801, 
30 counties and 305 towns ; in ISll, 45 counties and 452 towns, including 4 cities, 
and about 350 villages of 20 houses each and ujjwards, to 600 houses. It may ap- 
pear extravagant to some, nay mere wild conjecture, but the present value of the 
whole state of New-York, in lands, houses. Sec., stock, furniture, and every descrip- 
tion of property, at a fair valuation, would fail little short of ^500,000,000. 

iSLvNtJFAcTuuEs. This subject, which at present excites much interest, and very- 
general attention, demands more of detail, and is worthy of closer examir.ation^ 
than my limits will permit. Young as we are in the arts, though by no means de- 
ficient in mechanical genius, we have yet to learn in the scliool of experience, not 
only how to consult our convenience in relation to manufactures, but our combined 
interests. For much less of mechanical genius is recjuisite in large manufactories, 
than of mechanical drudgeiy, and a kind of servile, automaton patience and menial 
dcpend.ance. Situated as we ai-e, no ]jl:m of policy appears to me more prej-udlcial, 
than tliat of neg-lecting the soil, for a popular ])rlde of extending- our manufactures 
to a rivalry of tlie toy -shop productions of Europe. Nor can I lind cause for much 
exultation in tlie prevalent passion for large manufacturing- establisliments. It 
would, however, prove bcnelicial in the end, if we would consult our judgment 
more than our pride and jealousy, in the extent and variety to be r.ttcniptcd! Ar^-- 
ricultural nations liave ever found tlie most pi-ofitable branch of their trade, in tliat 
of rav/ m-riterials ; and improved agriculture, with an over-stocked population, must 
precede that period v/iieii a nation can beneficially engag'-e in extensive manufac- 
tures. Yet there are many articles vv'liich we have usually received from foreign 
manufactories, that we can better supply from our own establishments ; and time 
and experience must determine what these are. The cotton manuiacture is unques- 
tionably one of the number, as is glass, leather, and paper also ; v/hile many of those 
attempted, are of dubious expediency at present, except in some small degree. 
^Vas it the care of the Legislatui-e, and of paU'lotic individuals, to extend and im- 
prove the household manufactures, in pi-eftrence to large and extensive manufac- 
turing associations and establishments, more durable results might be anticipated, 
with greater public advantage. Tliose are the best patrons of tiie state, whose ex- 
ertions contribute most to the increase of individual happiness ; and this is best 
promoted by the efforts of industry, guided by the lights of appropriate knowledg-e. 
It is the moral duty, also, of tliose who are selected to watch over tlic national m- 
terests, to weigh well the moral tendencies of such plans of national policv or ao-- 
g-rimdizement, as they may choose to propose. After ail that 1 fear from this sys- 
tem, I confess that more arises from speculation in the stock of companies and as- 
sociations, than any other source : for neither experience, or good scn^e, are much 
consulted by those who are impatient to aid in blov.ing up the bubbles of specula- 
tion, and eager in the pursuit of monied consequence. 

The improved state of our manufactures, and their rapid Increase in extent and 
variety within a few years, alibrd, however, a wule range to detail, and a subject 
for just encomium. Of the first importance are those manufactures, which are the 
product of doniestic or houshold industry. Tiie following Table, formed, principal- 
ly, from the returns of the Census of 1810, exhibits a combined view of the princi- 
pal maiuilucturcs, in the respective couj-.tits. 



50 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 





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GENERAIi VIEW OF KEY/-YORK. 

derable portion of marmfactiircs, excluded from tke above table, are 
nderneatji. The several tanneries produce 61,618 tanned sheep-skins, 
§1.12 ; about 200,000 skins of Morocco leather are dressed annuallv, 
; and 40 to 50,000 yards tow-cloth may be added to the am.ount of 
.10 to 37 cents a yard. There are 10 Glass works, w]\ich make glass 
aie amoiml of J5lj200,000 ; 20 Rope w;dks, ralue manufactures, about ^600,000; 
10 Sug-ar liefi eries, value of n>anufactu;-es about g500,00C; 50 Cut-Nail Factories, 
value manufat 'uj-es exceed §300,000 ; the Bloomeries produce about 2000 tons 
bar-iron ; and .here are several KoUing' and Slittinj^ Mills. But these notices are 
necessarily inc implete, after all the enumerations that have been attempted. Ma- 
ny establishme Us are wholly omitted. Leather h v-Tought in shoes, saddles, har- 
ness, &.C., equ^ ■ to the whole consumption. Irpn is wroutrht in a very great variety 
of forms, besid' "tlio supplies for a.gricultural uses. The follovv'lng' list of bare enu- 
meration, Vv'illf.^xliiLit the variety in some considerable degree, and this mode oc- 
cupies m.ore.room than I can well spare for this purpose. 

Tanned, tawed, and dressed leathers, slices, boots, slippers, harness and saddle- 
ry of all kinds, portmanteaus and trunks, leather breeches, gloves, mulis and tip- 
pets, pai-clnnent and glue. 

Bar-iron, nail rods and nails, implements of husbandry', stoves, pots, &c., and 
castings of iron of almost ever}' description for cookery, and for machinery ; steel 
and iron v.ork for carriages, and ship building, scale-beam.s, and weights, tools for 
artificers, and arms of various kinds ; carding and spinning machines, steam en- 
gines ; ships, cabinet-wares ar.d tiu-nery, wool and cotton cards, and a great varie- 
ty of machinery for manufactiu-es and husbandrj^, coopery wares of every kind ; 
bricks, tile's, and comm.on pottery, and stone wares. 

Ardent spirits and malt liquors. Paper, hats, of fur and wool ; bellows, and 
cards. Women's stuff and silk shoes; bonnets. Ilefined Sugar. Glass, window . 
and bottles ; Cliocolate ; animal and vegetable oils ; Soap and Candles. Copper j 
and brass wiu'es ; military caps. See. Clocks, mathematical instruments ; tin wares } j 
can-iages of all kinds ; snuff and tobacco ; starch, and hair powder. Lampblack and * 
painters' coloi'.rs; gunpowder; printing- ink, presses and types; books in profuse a- I 
bundance, and in various languages. Cliurch, and small bells, comi;s, buttons. 
Surveyors' com,pr.sses, slate for rooff.ng of liouscs, various and improving manufac- 
tures of marble, mxill-stones, salt, silk, cloths of various kinds and qualities, &c. — 
Plouglis, hoes, axes, scythes, and other implements of husbandr\-. But, besides 
the above manidactures which are carried oil as regular trades, there are a vast 
many others, connected with agriculture, such as Hour and meal of all kinds, salts 
of ashes, pot and pearl ashes, lumber of all kinds, maple sugar, cider, &c. Sec. ; 
and a vast scene of household manufactures that yield annually a great amount, 
and which is rapidly increasiijg. Tlic amount of goods manufactured in tlie State- 
Prison, is about 60,000 dollars annually. About 700,000 bu.shels of salt will be 
made tliis year from the salt springs in the western region. The manufacture of 
woolen cloth, has been much extended and improved within a few years. I'rom 
all the above m.entioned manufactures, we may safely compute an amount for 1811, 
equal to S30,0'J0,O0O, and it is honorable to the character of the inhabitants, that 
about 12 millions of this sum is produced by household" industry and enterprize. 
Let it be observed, tliat persons employed in agricultvu-e, most usually clothe them- 
selves in cloths m.anufacturcd in their own funjiies, at a much less expense than 
they c;in be obtained from an}' manui'actories, foreign or domestic. And until our 
jiopulation amounts to lOU or more to a square mile, we cannot exchange the cul- 
tivation of tlie soil for tJie work-shop profits of extensive manufactories, without 
essentially neglecting our best interests. But it is important to bear in mind the 
constant fluctuations and changes of political events and relations, while we endea- 
vor to meet tliem by prudential regulations or restrictions. The present time is 
big Vi/ith event;;, of a new and unforeseen character. How long the present state 
of our foreign relations may continue, or to what new contingencies they may lead, 
nmst be leit to time and experience. To foster tiie national iiUerests as far as hu- 
man foresigiit can exte.'.d, is all t'lat can be expected. That some systems of na- 
tional policy arc better than others, nuist be ;idinitted on all hands; while time 
only can fully test their comparative merits. And nuich of the duration of our 
incle];ci.dence, rests with the good or ill success and practical wisdom of our na- 
tional meaijures. It is u primary duty to encourage sucli manul'actures J'S are es- 
sential to our comfort, and such as will lessen our dependence on European 
cinumci'cc. 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 53 

CoMMr.ncE A>-T) Trabk. The port of New- York, }-iekls about one fourth of the 
revenue of the United States' g-overnment collected from comHierce, which is ex- 
tended to every part of the globe. Tlie Tonnage of Nevr-York, agreeable to the 
Books of Registry at Washington, amounted, on tlie 31 Dec. 18u9, to 252,06,5 tons ; 
of which 243,539 belonged to the port of New- York; and the reraainder to Hudson 
and Sagg-IIarbor. The tonnage of Philadclpliia at the same period, was 121,443 ; 
of Boston, 133,257; of Baltimore, 102,434; of Cliarleston, S.C, 50,820; of Norfolk, V. 
40,940. At the close of the year 1803, the gross amount of New- York tonnage, was 
149,158; in 1805, 183,670. In 1793, 683 vessels entered the port of New-York from 



§18,719,527; in 1801, <519,851,136; in 1804, gl6,081,281; in 1805, 823,482,943"; or 
8,098,060 dollars, of domestic origin; in 1810, tlie domestic exports amounted to 
^10,928,573— foreign ^6,315,757, total ^17,242,330. The exjjorts, exclusive of 
articles from foreign countries, consist principally of beef, tallow, pork, liams, lard, 
wheat, maize, rye, butter, clieese, pot and pearl ashes, flax-seed, pease, beans, hor- 
ses, cattle, lumber, fiour and meal, bread and biscuit, which constitute tlie domes- 
tic exports. The foreign, is composed of imported articles; and v/liile it former- 
\y swelled the exports to an enornrous amount, held out a deceptive view of 
commercial prosperit}'. In 1805, the articles of foreign origin, re-exported, a- 
mounted to 15,384,883 dollars; and wliich in 1810, had depreciated to 6,313,715 dol- 
lars, while the domestic had increased to almost 11 millions. It would be well to 
observe that the decrease of the amount of exports of late years, is principally in 
foreign articles ; wliile those of domestic, or our ov.n surplus products are constimt- 
ly increasing in amount. Rut the position o5 New-York, and its commercial ascen- 
clanc\-, necessarily collect there a large share of the products of the adjacent terrl- 
toi'ies of otiier states ; beside concentrating much of foreign commerce, from other 
ports, tlirough the natural influence of its immense capital and long established 
s3-stem of foreign trade. Wheat, the national staple, is exported annually to a 
very gTcat amount ; and about 6 miLions bushels on an average, after deductmg the 
supplies for the country, are sent to market, fnmi the surplus product of this 
state ; though a considerable portion of tiiis amount, by entering other chamiels, is 
still consumed liere. 

The trade on the Hudson, emplo3's a vast number of sloops, schooners, and other 
vessels ; and the gTOss amoimt of property of evej-y description, ammally afloat on 
this river, probably exceeds 50 millions dollars, indeed from spring to fall, it is 
crouded with sails of shipping, and displays a scene of business vastly superior to 
any otiier river of America. During- the summer of 1811, near 200,000 dol- 
lars' worth of co.irse grain, principally maize and rye, has been bouglit up, in 
Troy alone, destined for Europe. The trade of the western lakes, Ontario and 
Erie, already yields a large amount of profits to New-York, and is rapidly increas- 
ing. jV single cai'go of furs which arrived at Buffalo in 1811, was valued at 150 
thousand dollars. The inland trade through the Mohawk and the small lakes, 
opens extensive avenues for commercial difl'usion and trading enterpi-izc ; while 
that by the Ontario and St. Lawrence, is of very great amount. The trade by the 
Delav/arc, Susquehanna, and Allegany, is of cousiderabie importance, and all tliese 
avenues keep up a brisk circulation in every part. The salt trade, yields conside- 
rable revenue to the state, and employs a gi-eat number of persons. ' 

Tiie average annual paynients into the United States' treasury, for duties on im- 
ports, tonnage, &.c., exceed 4 millions of dollars from the district of Nevv-York. 
See Hevexue and Exi-Eivsiis. 

Socir.TiES. The Agricvltvral Societji of the Sfafe of JWw-York, was instituted in 
1791, for the purpose of promoting a kno\\ledge ot agriculture, manufactures and 
the arts. The act of incorj)oration having expired, a new one has been obtained, 
changing the name to the Society of Useful Arts, but the objects remain the same. 
This society has a list of officers, and the members of the Legislature are ex-officio 
members. Several volumes of its transactions have been published, and it lias been 
beneficial to the interests of tlie community. The meetings are Iield at the seat 
of government. It is much to be regretted tliat this society does not adopt a plan 
of more general diffusion of its researches. A monthly' magazine, would yield 
much more of general utility; and if well conducted, should give also a faithful 

8 



54 GENERAL TIEW OF NEW-YORK. 

abstract of" news, domestic and foreign, foi" the use of farnicrs aud mechanics. On 
this phm the evils at present existing, M-ould he in some degree counteracted, 
■while knowledge would be extended, and domestic happiness increased. This sub- 
ject is so in.portant that I take the liberty to urge it parlirulai-ly for the conside- 
ration of tlie Society of Useful Arts, knowing Its z/.-al to do good. 

Other Agricultv:ral societies have been formed in some comities, but their trans- 
actions are little known to tlie public 

A Vhumber of Commerce, was imitltuted in New-York under the colonial govern- 
ment, by a patent from the king of f ^reat Britain, in 1770 for promoting the suc- 
cess of connnerce. In 17J5i, a conflrmiaory act of the legislature, contmued the 
corporation, witli enlarged privileges. 

J\[edkal Societies, have been instituted here, and attended with very beneficial 
consequences to the interests of medical science. There is a State Medical Socie- 
ty, and County Societies are organized in most of the counties in the state. The 
state society, meets annually at the seat of government, and deputies are sent to at- 
tend its deliberations from the comity societies. This society is about to publisli 
u volume of its transactions. 

Within a few years, a Historical Society^ has been established in Kcw-York, on a 
plan well calculated to form an useful depositoi'y of historical knowledge, and ta 
foster the interests of literature. From the zeal and ability of its patrons, tlie in- 
stitution is entitled to a high character, and much is anticipated from its labors. 
A.n .Icudejr.Tj of ^Irli), has also been established there of a very respectable cha" 
facter. 

Jii/ile and JIissio?uini Socieiies, are formed in New-York, Albany, and some other 
counties ; and tl;e Jieuevolent, Charifn'jle and JIumime Societies, are very numerous, 
respectable and useful. The Ladies have charitable societies in several counties, 
Avhich dispense considerable sums aniong the widows and fatherless. There are 
about 40 benevolsnt institutions in the city of New- York ; and if some political, 
policy lurk in the deaign of s(mie of these, the charity of the purse is eiilarged as 
much as that of opinion is restricted by their operations. Ti\e Jilatmiuission Socit/>f, 
was instituted for the protection of the injiu'ed rights of humanity. Lut it would 
swell this article to an inconvenient extent, by mere enumeration of names; tho' 
the C'Hv JI/>apiiaI, the Alms House, the Free Scuoof, the JJi.ipensan/, the Ilnmune So- 
cieiij, tiie Lnvcuster School, and many other excellent institutions, ought not to be 
omitted. Nor must the Socieiy of Teachers be omitted, an institution calculated 
lor extensive utility. And Albany deserves a high character for a bountiful dis- 
tribution of charity, s.nd associations for hum;me purposes. Its Lancaster School,. 
a recent establishment, confers high honor on the liberal patrons of utility and the 
benefactors of the humble and indigent. There arc sevtral benevolent societies 
here, and some in most of tlie populous towns thvoughout the state. There are 
Library Societies, in Nevv'-York, Albany, Hudson, Schenectadj', Troy, Poughkeepsie, 
Kingston, Ncwburgh, Utica, luid in most of the large towns ; beside a considerable 
mm"iber in otlier parts of the counti-y, a peculiar feature of the New-England social 
character, while the Butch, in. general, have less tuste ibi- various reading. Per- 
haps there is no mean of such extensi-ce utility, wliich comes within the limited 
means of everv small society, as social libraries ; and it were much to be desired 
that their number in this sfclte, sliould be increased. Heading- is essential to knowl- 
ed;.;e; and (iazettes have become the mere vehicles of party declamation, political 
Guiining and paltry and narrow-minded jealousies. At least, this is too generally 
tiiecase, and their influence is too pernicious to escape animadversion.. See Litl- 
KATUHK. The manufacturing societies arc very numerous and rapidly uicreasing. 

Svatj: Piirsojf, «a Pexitextiabt.. The State Prison is about two miles from the 
City-Hall hi the, city of New-York, on the E. bank of the Hudson ; built in 1796-7 ; 
and", with the buildings and courts comprises four acres of ground. The principal 
front is on (Greenwich-street, 204 feet in length ; from the rear of each end, a wing 
extends toward the river, ar.d from these are other wings, making 200 feet depth. 
'I'iiere are two stories above tlie basement, each 15 feet m height. Tiie whole fa- 
bric is of the Doric order, the walls of free-stone, covered with slate, and a hand- 
some cupola crouns the pediment. It contains 54 rooms, 18 by 12 feet for prison- 
trs, each of w liich may accommodate 8 persons. In the N. wing is a large room 
%\ ith galleries, Htted for public worship. The centre apartments are ajipropriated 
to the use of the Keeper of the Prison. At the end of each wing arc solitary cells, 
14 la all ; each 8 Icct by 6, and 14 in height. PvU-allel to the front along tiic r<;aj: 



GENERAL TIEW OF NEW-YOmv. 55 

of the yard, is a buildinjj: of brick 200 feet by 20, two stories hig'li, which contains 
all the work shops. The whole is enclosed by a masoned wall of stone, 23 feet 
hig'h next the river, 14 in front. This ground affords svifficicnt room for fuel, &c., 
and a garden that supplies all the vegetables consumed in the wliole establish- 
ment. A spacious wharf, is constructed along- the whole rear. The whole expense 
of the grour.d and improvements, 208,846 dollars. Intimately connected with this 
subject, is a ctu'sory retrospect of the criminal liuws of this state, as it serves to 
indicate the prog'ress and the epochaof a prcgrcssive change of public opinion. — 
No axiom of public law is better established, than that the punishment ought to 
be strictly pi-oportioned to tlie crime, in order the most eflectually to deter from 
tlic commission of ofrizjnces : aiwl nothing can be more certahi tlian that the gen- 
ius of the American governments, and the mild and equal tenor of tlieir ration- 
al principles -of jurisprudence, called for a similar cliaracter of criminal law, as one 
indication of improved knowJ<'dge. That the same punishment should be inflicted 
for dissimilar offences, — for offences so different in degrces of moral t\!rpitude as 
petit-larceny, and deliberate murder, v.'as a monstrous absurdity in princijjle, and 
appeared even greater in practise. Tiic hlghv/uyman who lived on the spoils of 
robbery and deliberate murder, was hanged on the same gallows with tlie destitute 
orphan who had stolen a few pence -worth of bread to satisfy the cravings of hun- 
ger, and perhaps taken in a moment of desperation to save life itself ! In at- 
tempting a reform in the criminal hiws, adapted to the genius of the American 
characte]', the state of Pennsylv;uua had taken the lead ; and New-York was not 
slow to perceive, c«" too self-sufficient to borrow from example, or to learn from 
experience. 

With whatever of defects that may l>e foun<l in the British laws, they still must 
remain a durable monument of the wisdom of British Legislators, while learning 
and knowledge sliall confer any claims to respect or veneration : though it must be 
objected that to the present day, tlieir criminal laws forni the worst part of their sys- 
tem, and still parti;ke too much of the bloody character of former times, by un- 
dervaluing iumum life, and by a bliiKi i>erseverance in ancient usages, in which 
little regard was paid to prnijortloning the punishments to the degrees of guilt. 
And when New- York became a I'litish colony, those laws and institutions 
were of course introduced iiere, though experience soon taught that they were of 
a character tco sanguinary for the new state of societ}-, and unfriendly to that spi- 
rit of libcrt}- and of free enquiry which om* improved social relations were calcu* 
lated to produce. Perhaps in no colony of Am.erica was there so strict an adherence 
to the laws of England, as in this state — and so long maintained that experience 
and reason becam.e convinced of the inapplicabiliiy of the system. In 1788, the 
following crimes were declared piuiishable by death, ag:-ecable to an act of the Le- 
gislature ; murder,- treason, jokI misprision of treason, rape, sodomy, burglary, 
robbery of a church, house -breakin.g whereby any person v.as put in fear, robbing 
a house, other robbery, theft and thereby putting any person in fear, arson, maim, 
ing or wounding, and forgeiy. The conviction of all which felonies was accompa- 
nied also with forfeiture of all descriptions of the property of the felon. All other 
felonies were punishable by fine, imprisomuent, by corporal punishment, or all, or 
either, at the discretion of the court, for t)ie Jirst offence, and tor the second, by- 
death. 

In March 1 796, principally through the zealous exertions of some benevolent 
And enlightened private citizens, a bill passed the usual legislative forms, * for 
making alterations m tlie criminal laws of this state, and the erecting of state pri- 
sons.' By this and subrjccjuent laws, murder and treason are alone punishable by 
■tleath, while other crimes before denominated capital, are punishable by imprison- 
Tiient for life in the state prison. Other ofiences, by a confinement for a term pro- 
portioned to the guilt. No attainder for any crime except treason, occasions a for- 
ieiture of property. 

The immediate government of the prison is committed to seven Inspectors, ap- 
pointed by the (Council of Appointment. The Inspectors have a Clerk, and appoint 
as many Keepers of the prison as circumstances may recmire. The Inspectors act 
gratuitously, but the Clerk and Keepers have salaries from the government. The 
plan of the prison, is confinement and hard labor in some branch of industry and 
profit. Convicts are all dressed in imiform, the sexes kept separate, and all are 
comfortably clothed and fed. Great care is taken of their morals, in the benevolent 
J«ope of ii reformation; tuid some one, of the best qualiiicatioiis and character is sc- 



56 GENEEAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 

lected to superintend the several branches of manufacture. A irilitary guard is 
now attached to the establislimcnt, the expense of wliich and other expenses of 
the whole, mav he seen under Rf.vf.nue and Expenses. In 1707, 121 convicts en- 
tered the prison; in 1798, 144; 1799, 121; 1800, 150; 1801, 157; making- 693 in 
all. Of this number, 6G were sentenced for for{»'erv, &c. ; for bura^lary, 34 ; high- 
way robbery, 1 ; man-ilari^^fhtcr, 4 ; stealing from a church, 1 ; grand larceny, (steal- 
ing more than 12 1-2 dollars,) 260 ; jjetit larcen)-, less than I'i 1-2 dollars, 277; ar- 
son, 5 ; assault and l^attei'}', 20 ; sodomy, 1 ; hofse-stealing, 15 ; rape, 1 ; perjury, 
3; acccssarj'^ to a convict felon, 1; bigamy, 1; swindling, 1 ; receiving stolen 
goods, 2 : — 403 Americans, 290 Foreigners. They are jn-incipally employed as 
shoe-makers, or other work in leather ; making nails, and other work in iron ; as car- 
penters, tailors, weavers, in spinning, g\ardening, &c. &c. — The economy of the 
prison requires considerable annual funds from the state, for its maintenance, and 
the supply of raw materials for its manufactures. In 18''1, the expense of clothing 
and maint.tining prisoners, amounted to ^22, 632. 65 ; the manufactured goods sold 
dtiring the same year, amounted to §35,275.59 ; tlie expense of .tools, raw materi- 
als, &.C., amounted to ^31,629.11, and the inventory of tools, materials, goods on 
hand, &c., at the close of the year to 52^,769.17 ; at the commencement of the 
year, 815,228.83. Thus it appears that the manufactures yielded a nett profit to 
the state of 1^7,941.83, toward paying* the expenditures of that year for mainten- 
ance of the prison, when there remained, at the close of tlie year, 344 convicts. Of 
this number, 250 were men, and 57 \vomen ; whites 273, blacks 71. 

Natvuai. CcnrosiTiEs. Among the natui-al curiosities of this state, we must as- 
sign a foremost place to the far-f.;med Cataract of Niagara ; a scene of greater 
magnitude and more real sublimity, than exists in any other portion of th^ g'lobe. 
But this article will be restricted to some fugitive notices, or to mere enumeration, 
while the descriptions are to be sougiit in anotlier pa.rt of this work. To describe 
the Falls of Niagara, and tlse surrounding scenery in natural connexion, with well 
merited minuteness, would fill a small volume. When we survey the connex- 
ion of many large lakes, which in magnitude might asj^re to the name of sea, 
collecting the waters from an immense area, discharging their superfluous store."? 
through a ri^'er of one to three miles in width : — we trace the progress of the 
collection from springs, rivulets, rivers, and view witli wonder their dischiu-ge 
into vast inland seas of fresh-water ; these disembogue in a mighty river rajiidly 
hastening- toward another lake — and as we trace its course, we catch tiic thunder 
of a water-fall at the distance of 10, 20, antl even 30 miles. Arrived on tlie mar- 
gin, we survey, but with indescribable emotion, tine v/hole volume of this vyater, 
contracted to 3-4 of a mile in M'idth, tumbling over a periiendicular precipice of 
150 feet into a deep chasm of its own formation, while the rocks on whichwe 
stand sensibly feel and tremulously vibrate to the enormous Impulse. Above, is a 
rapid, of angry descent for two miles ; — and below, the dashing of eddy torrents 
hold a terrific coarse for some miles over other rapids, till the whole is lost in the 
blue expanse of Lake Ontario. The whole descent within 10 miles, is about 300 
feet ; or that from Lake Erie to Ontai-io, 329 feet ; a distance of 34 miles. 

The Cohoes, or great Falls of the Mohawk, the Little Falls also ; Baker's and 
Glenn's Falls, of the Hudson; the Falls of W. Canada creek, those of Black river, 
of,Seneca river, Genesee rivei", and some others are deserving of notice under this 
head. The mineral waters, are noticed under ^Mineralogy. But we must no^t omit 
the passage of the Hudson throtigh the Highlands without any present obstruction 
to navigation, nor the rude nali,ial sculpture of AnUiony-s Nose. Indeed the ex- 
terior natural features of the country present much for curious investigation ; 
while the mineralogy and geology abound with matter for ingenious research. The 
jSroduction of gypsum is noticed under Mineralogy, as are many other subjects 
worthy of enumeration here ; and in no country on earth are the processes of na- 
ture more conspicuous, or the chan.ges of minci-al substances more favorably dis- 
played for investigation. Tlie sulphur s))rhig of Ontario, and the oil spring of Ca- 
taraugus county, deserve notice also. 'I'he Bock bridge in Ciiester, Washington 
county, is entitled to eminent notice ; and the natural caverns in iime-stone ti'acts 
are very numerous and extensive. But this part of geographic detail has been so 
long occupied as a theme for marvellous narration, tliat most readers will find lit- 
tle interest in exaggerated descrijjtions of hollow spaces in the earth or in i-ocks. 
Tiiey are alwq} s dark if deej), however, and usually damp— and bats and toads auU 



GENERAX, VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 57 



frog's and sometimes snakes, are to be found in tbcni — spiders alwavs : and havinp; 
furnished my readers with this knowk-dg-e, I yield to every one's fancv the right, 
to form just such Jiorrific scenes as may please his own taste. But I am unable to 
cite him to any haunted castles or mouldering' ruins of suspicious critcin. There 
are many petrifactions, and much of our limestone is filkiL witfi impressions re- 
sembling- the protuberant lines and common features of jiniscle shells. And what 
is still more ciirious, the formation of lime stone, with similar impressions, is con- 
stantly going' on in argillaceous soils, where no muscles exist or can have existed 
for many centuries past. In a pure argillaceous earth, where a root or a worm, have 
left an opening for tlie deposition of certrdn extraneous matter, united with earthy 
particles colkctcd by tlie descent of water, which sujiplies the necessary moisture, 
an induration or kind of petrifaction commences, and tlie nucleus assumes the mus-. 
cular impression by a mere process of crystallization.* The Split Rock, on Lake 
Champlain, is less worthy of notice than the abundance of little islands at the Nar- 
rows of L;ike Ck'orge ; while that lake and tli« stupendous mountain scenery that 
emborder it, deserve early notice by Tourists. Under this licad may be expected 
some notice of tjie ledges of stone that mark tlie ancient southern bovmdaric^. of' 
Lake Ontario. There are 3 of those ledges ; but the northern one, along which is 
contemplated the Kidg'e Road, extends from Lewiston on Niagara river, into Her- 
kimer county-, so clearly defined and constituted of sucii siniilarity of materials 
throughout, as to leave no doubt of its continuity, and little of its origin. Tlie 
stone is sand-stone and slate, and the g-eneral elevation about 170 feet. From Lew- 
iston to Oneida county, its common distance from tlie present shore of the lake, is 
from. 7 to 12 miles. Retween tliis and the shore is a gravelly ridge, evidci-.tly 
thrown up by ithe action of the water at some former period; and on this, which 
may not ina]jtly be denominated Natures' Turnpike, th.e Ridge road is now opening 
from Genesee to Lev/iston, a distance of 87 miles. This ridjre consists of gravel 
intermixed with small shells, closely compacted together; the general width from 
4 to 8 rods, and from 6 to 10 feet higli, with a very even surface. Across lower 
tracts, it is raised in just proportion ; and in one place where it extends about a half 
mile through a deep marsh, is raised 20 to 30 feet, and is about 8 rods wide. Tiiis 
ridge is covered with forest trees, like those which occupy its holders. From 
the ledge of stone, and from the ridge, the whole expanse of Ltike Ontario lies in 
full view. Nor must tlie vast prairies or unwoodcd phuus of the western region 
he omitted; tliese are in'inci]xdly confined to the country Vv. of Genesee river, and 
tile soil is equall)- rich with that of the surrounding- wocd-lands. The Geologist, 
would find the whole western region of this state rich in fields for ample and in- 
teresting research. To the man of science, no part of the United States, presents 
such a mass of curiosities. Tiie whole country has probably been drained of its 
Avatery covering within a few centuries ; and ccrt;-.in it is that it now cxliibits more 
demonstrative proofs of the recent and progressive chang'es and tran-jintitations of 
natural bodies than yny other part. The f-)rmation of slate and lime-stone, may be 
observed through the whole process in every district, and lie completely open to 
t;veryday observation; as does the whole process of petrifaction also, and the ex- 
trication of petrol or rock-oil. It ought never to be forgotten by students in the 
school of nature, that all induration which produces stone, is performed by a spe- 
cies of petrifaction. While, tliei'efore, the stone is in formation, other bodies, as 
wood, bone, &c., coming in contact or within the sphere of the petrifactive action, 
luidei'go a similar cliange. Thus it is, that some running- streams, or the waters of 
some small lakes, convert wood to stone. I have many samples of wood, the b.illsof the 
buttoR-wood or plane-tree, with bone, fish entij-e, and even animal excrement, firm- 
ly petrified, and changed to liiae-stone, by being attached to argillaceous earth while 
forming slate and lime-stone. These samples, with many others, were collected 
irith mucli care in various parts of the United States, during my travels in 1797, to 
1800: though principally in the western part of this state, on the S. shore of Lake 
Erie, and along- the Oliio. 

Indians. It appears very proljable that tlie southern and western parts of this 
state contained a considerable share of Indian population at a very remote period. 
So eiu-ly as lo35, the country about the salt-lake, then called Gannentaiia, no\y On- 

, -^ _ 

* The reader ivill pardon my referring him to viy Geography, page 146-7-8} for some 
udditiomd information on this siiMcct. 



58 t5ENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 

ondag-a, avus considered a fnvoritc position, by the wandering' tribes, and the seat 
of considerable p.ojnilation. Little, however, is now known ot'the nvinihers of these 
}icople, till after the permanent establishment of colonics in Canada, and in Kew- 
York. In 1635, tlic Tvorjiioise, or I'ive Nations, who occupied the country from 
Lakes Erie and Ontario, tlie St. Lawrence, around Lake Cliamplain, and the whole 
of that watered by the Hudson down to the Hi!i,-hlands, were very numerous and 
warlike. Such was their ascendancy, that the Indians of the lower country of the 
Hudson, on tlie Connecticut, tl>e Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, were in a kind 
of subjection to them. Onondag-a, was the principal settlement, the seat of Indian 
power ; and before the arrival of any Europeans, had fortifications of sufficient magni- 
tude and streng'th for Indian warfare at tiiat day. A double row of paliisades, en- 
closed by a bank of earth, formed no contemptible barrier. At tliis plac£ their coun- 
cils were held, a.nd all cnterprizes settled. Possessing' such an extent of country, 
opulent in native supplies, and very fertile, tlie Iroquoise extended the terror oi' 
their arms to far distant tribes. Their own combination, consisting of the Onon- 
<lag-as, Oneidas, Mohawks, Cayugas and the Senecas, taught them tlie value of 
imiied strength; and tlicy were able to send several tliousand warriors on distant 
■expeditions. Theii- government at tlvls time, api^roximated nearer to the federa- 
tive system, than any other in Xortii America ; as each tribe maintained separate 
government, though the Grand Council settled the afiairs of the whole confedera- 
cy^, whether in peace or wai-. Unhappil}-, the first Chvisticm colonists adopted a 
'course of conduct in direct contradiction to tl>cir professions. Cunningly endea- 
Toring to profit of Indian wars, they sought to keep alive their savage jealousies, 
and even joined in tlieir expeditions, and in the work of extermination. To tj\e 
eternal disgrace of these adventurers, the most abominable hypocrisies and frauds 
were practised; and tlms the Indians were taught to despise those whom they had 
Init just before regarded as Cods, or some beings of a higher order than themselves. 
I" or no people on earth have a gi-eater contempt for baseness, than the American 
Indians, however base they may have become tliemselvcs. Superior beings, who 
"taught them a new religion, or ratjier who amused them vi'ith their own fables and 
JTiysterious rites, with high pretensions of immediate agency with the Great Fa- 
ther of Spirits, were soon found perMdious, and capable of every species of decep- 
tion and meanness. 

I'he French and British were rival nations ; and too soon succeeded in the course 
of their Intrigues, to excite tlie most implacable -t^nmlties. About the year 1690, 
the English ei'ected a sti-ongfort at Onondaga; and in 1696, the French sent a con- 
siderable force against the Indian settlement, and succeeded in Its destruction. 
Colonies of each of these nations were planted there at different periods. These, 
with other operations, explain the origin of those antiquities about Onondaga, that 
iiave given rise to many sage and strange conjectm-es. 

But a history of the Indians is iwt the design of tliis sketch ; and'from this period 
their history is much interwoven with that of the American wars. And if civilized 
nations have not by their intercourse, im]n-oved the Indian morals, habits and man- 
ners, the cause is not to be sought 'n\ tlie debility of tlieir understanding-, or any 
tieficiency In a genius for imitation. During the revolutionary and other wars, their 
skill in enterprize fully evinced the correctiwss of this remark, while every atten- 
tive oljserver has been convinced that the Indian morals ai-e depraved by Intercourse 
■with tliose white peojjle who usually surround them. IJut at tliis period some of 
the remnants of ti-ibes that reside in this state, may be i-egarded as a part of the 
fixed population, v.iiose manners and morals are ameliorated by tlie example of 
moral neighbors. According to Coltlen, the historian of the Five Nations, tlieir 
compact existed at the time of the iii'st settlements by tiu? Europeans; and the time 
of their union was even then lost in the imcertainty of ancient occurrences. It is 
very certain, that during a considerable nmnber of years, and perhaps ages, they 
were more attached to the cultivation of the soil than any of the surrounding- In- 
dians, whom they supplied witji corn In exchange for skins ; or the products of 
iigriculture, suci\ as it vras, for those of hunting. The Algonquins, who lived In 
Canada, were theu- most powerful enemies and constant rivals. Decoming nume- 
rous and comparatively rich, they were assailed on- all liquids, while they chose 
I)eaec,and cultivation of their lands. J\or was It only in self-defence, thai they re- 
sorted to war, in which, however, they soon excelled ; carrying- terror and dismay 
wherever they appeared. Future ages will learn with horror tliat a i-emnant of the 
Mohawks, who tnibraccd'the chmtianity of those times, retired to ioreWOj near 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 39 

Montreal, at first called in derision by their brethren and others, the Praying' 
Indians, were employed in every species of enormity ag-ainst all Heathen Indians — 
burning, torturing', "desti-oying-, without remorse, fkthei-, brother, son; — Nor age 
nor youth experienced any mercy ! Cliristianity, indeed ! 

I liavc not been able to collect sufficient data for envimeration of the Indians at 
present in tliis state. Tlieir principal settlements are at Oneida, Onondaji^a, on the 
Genesee antl Allegany rivers, Buffalo creek, and at Tuscarora, tb.ough there are 
many other places wliere they reside in smaller numbers, all of wliicli are noticed 
in the Gazetteer. By rt ferring to the article Revkxue axb Expensks, it will be 
seen that annuities to tlic Indians in consequence of purchases of lands, make a 
c'ousiderable item in tl|c annual expenses of Government. And the government of 
tliis state has pursued k better policy with the Indians througliout, than any other 
state in the union. It h:<s prevented as fiir as possible, unfair purchases of their 
lands, and lias been careful to fulfd all engagements, with good faith and with 
careful prompitude. Less solicitous for their nominal conversion to Cliristianity, 
tlian the improvement of their morals, many enlightened individuals have been 
assiduous to acquaint them with agriculture and the arts, the only mean of con- 
version from savage to civilized life, and from barbarism to Christianity. These 
benevolent exertions are seconded by the state, with a full prospect of sufficient 
success. Among some of these tribes are Indian farmers of g'ood moral charac- 
ter, .sober and industrious. Sevci-al of those have farms, lire -stock, and property 
amounting' to several thousand dollars. Of the Onondag;:s, tlicre are about 20O 
at Onondaga, 200 at Buifalo, 100 on the Allegany river, and 100 at (irand river 
in Canada. TJiis Xation receives ^2000 annually i'vom this state, divided among 
the whole, tliough those at Onondaga have 1000 of it. Fifty years ago, the wliole 
tribe now so scattered, could raise 2J0J \rarriors at the sound of the ^\'ar-llorn. 
Mr. Webster, tlie Interpreter, wlio has resided at Onondaga since 1786, asss>u-es 
me the Indians have no altercations; and during 10 years, he has not known im 
angry expression; not even so much as to say witli any degree of passion, "you are 
mistaken." Tlieir women ai'c treated with respect, and even tenderness. They use 
no ardent liquors or strong waters. In 1S09, eight or ten of the principal Indians 
resolved to abstain from the use of strong drink, and within a year tlie wlwle 
milted in tliis determination, from wliich they have not yet deviated. Tliey 
drink cider, but with jjerfect temperance. Injuries done to their crops, are fiiir- 
ly adjusted, and without any ill-will. They are cultivating a habit for agricul- 
ture. The first wheat they raised was in 1809, about 30 bushels; and they har- 
vested in 1811, 100 acres. Tiie magnitude of the Indian interest may be seen in 
the amount of expenditures on their account. The annuities amount to 13,892 
dollars, including a small expence attending payment; t)ie support of attornies 
for tile legal jn-eservation of tlieir rights, §200 ; the support of a school among 
the Ncw-Stockbridge Indians, S3O0;"and §2)0 for tlie support of those visiting 
tiie capital on business, during the session of the Legislature;— in :dl ^14,o9J 
per annum. The Tuscaroras, who came from Virginia, joined the confederucy of 
the Five Nations about 1712, and several other remnants of tribes have been ad- 
ded at various times. Vocabulai'ics of the priiicipal Indian dialects used in this 
state since first known to I'.uropeans, v.ith more minute details of their num- 
bers, genius and history, are in considerable forwardness, and will be added to 
future editions of this work. 

HisTORT. To exhibit a mere outline of Historic record, is all that ])elongs to 
this article, in a geographical summary. To load the science of t^eograpliy, of 
all othei-s liie most comprehensive, witli elaborate details of History, is to de- 
stroy all its harmony and much of its interest. To fix tlie epoclia of the most 
imporLimt e\ents, arranged in ciu'onological order, is all that can be desired. A- 
lucid order of arrangement is tlie more important in tliese sciences, as it luts 
been little regarded ; and it is to tliis defect that we may ascribe t!ie failure of 
most Writers on Geogriiphy and History. For though a Writer may have a gen- 
eral View of his wlioie subject, which to his mind appears plain and familiar, 
\Tt he can only impart this to the minds of others in separate parts. Books for 
elementary instruction, or fur the general reailer, however mature his mind or 
comprehensive his knowledge, must be arranged on tlie same model ; and none ciui 
arrive at the ship of kujwiedge v.iUiout a boat — the Admiral, no more tlian tiic 
Cabin-Boy. It will be seen tnat many of tlie events recorded in tlie following 
«lu-onolQjjy, belong to tlie history of tUif» state only a.s being- an integral, though iin- 



60 GENERAL TIEW OF NEW-YOBK. 

■'''—•■" ■ t ' ' . ..-u 

portant member of the United States; aiul many of the most important events of 
the revokitionary war occurred in this state, as did those of former wai-s, of which 
this was the prmcipril tliciitre. 

It v/ill be recollected tlKit the American world was fn-st made known to Euroj^c, 
by Colon or Columbus in 1492. In 14:97, (Jaljot, in the service of Eng-land, sailed 
aiong- the N. E. coast, from Crtpe Florida to Latitude 68" North ; and by this, call- 
ed the right of discovery, the English laid claim to the whole con.tincnt. In 1534-5, 
Cartier, in the service of Er;uice, sailed up tlie St. Lawrence as f;u' as Ilocheloga, 
■now Montreal ; and tl^e Frei-vch, by tlie same rig-ht, laid claim to that country, ha- 
ving- been the first European Na^'ig'ators who ])enetrated far into the interior. — 
At tills time, the present State of New- York was possessed by the Iroquoise,* and 
.Canada by ti:e xVlgonquins,t powerful, warlike, and rival Nations of Indfans. These 
facts should be distinctly remembered, as also tlv5 origin of European claims to 
the respective countries. 

But it was not till 1608, that the French planted any colonies in Canada ; and 
an 1609, Champlain, the founder, discovered Lakes Champlain and George, t when 
he defeated a small party of the Iroquoise on the shore of tlie latter, and first 
showed these astonished Natives the effect of fire-arms. In 1608, Hudson, an 
Enp-lishman, discovered the East and Nortli rivers, the latter of which he ascended 
in ills boat to Aurania, now Albany, and soon after sold his right privately to tlia 
Butch. In 1614 the Siates General of Holland ei-ected a Fort at Albany, and gran- 
ted an exclusive trade on Hudson river, to the Dutch W. India Company. In 1615, 
some re-inforcements arrived from HoUar.d, and a Fort was erected on Manhattan, 
.or Yoi'k-Island, which founded the Citj^ of New- York, at first New-Amsterdam. 
In 1621 the whole country was granted to the Dutch W. India Company ; and in 
1629 Wouter Van I'willer, the first Governor, arrived and took the command of 
New-Xetherland, as it was then called. Plymouth, in New-England, had been set- 
tled bv an English colony, since 1620, and another English colony Ibunded in Vir- 
ginia, "in 1610. The Englisili still laid claim to this country, objecting to the sale of 
Hudson ; and in 1663-4, the K. of E. granted the wliole to his brother James Dulce of 
York and Albany, afterwards James 11. A small armament subdued the colony for 
Eno-land wjiich then took tlie name of New- York, as did the cit}^ also. In 1664, 
the^Duke of York released New-Jersey to Carteret and Beiklc}^, in fall sovereignty. 
In 1665 the French expedition froin Canada ag-ainst the Mohawks, and Corlear's 
Jmmane interposition at Schenectady'. In 1673 New-York was conquered by the 
Dutch bvit restored in 1673-4. The Duke's grant was confirmed in full sovereign- 
ty and the colony cmiirmed to the English by Treaty, which right they held till 
tii'e Revolution. In 1679, the French built a .small Fort at Niagara. In 1681, Pennsyl- 
vania was granted to William Penn. In 1684-5-6, Livingston's Manor granted by the 



son on ecclesiastical government. New-York and Albany charters granted, 1686. 
The French invaded vlie country of the Seneca Indians, 1687. In 1689, Leisler, :i 
factious leader, headed a revolt and a new government. French and Indians fi'om 
Canada sacked and liurnt Schenectady, 1690. First Colonial Assembly for making 
law 1691, from which period the regular jom-nals are now before me. It is pro- 
per to bbserve here, tiiatfrom the surrender of tlie province in 1664 to 1683, the Dake 
of York possessed full sovereignty. He aj)pointed the Governori:, and the Council, 
who m.ide rules and orders that were acknowledged as laws. These were calkd 
tlie Duke's laws, which were collected and arranged midcr alphabetical titles about 
1674. A copy of tliese is reposited among the records of the state. " Tliose acts 
•wJiich were made in 1683, and alter the Duke's accession to the throne of {'.ngland, 
when the people were admitted to a participation of the Legislative power, aro 
mostly rotten, defaced or lost."§ No regard is now paid to J;i\vs made here an- 
tecedent to Io9i, wlien the first Legislative Assembly was organized. New- York 
was divided into 9 comities, and the ha.isc consisted of 17 Delegates. Mild win- 
ters 1692-3, Hudsf-.n open in February, at Albany. V. 175J-6. In 1693, an act of 

* Called also the Five J\'uti(jnSy Six .A'a:io?is, and (he Confederates ; and hij the 
Dutch oriq-imdUi, Maquaas. 

f These -verc called Adirondacks, also, though principalh> .Vigonquins or Mgonkim. 
^. At first called St. Sacrament, from the pnritu of its rvuters. 
§ Smith's Jlistort/ of JWiv-Yo.k. 



GENERAL VIEW OF NEW-YORK. 61 

Assembly foi- a national church, gave great discontent. 1695, French and Indian 
expedition against the Mohawks. 1700, a law to exclude Jesuits and Popish priests 
xmder severe penalties. Lord Cornbury's haughty persecution of religious sects 
in 1707, merits notice in connection with 1685, 1693 and 1700, as they serve to in- 
dicate the causes and the progress of a more enlightened opinion. It is only by 
witnessing tlieir effects that we learn the extent of evils, and how to find a reme- 
dy. The second Legislative Assembly convened in 1708. In 1709, a second fruit- 
less expedition to Canada. Col. Schuyler goes to England in 1710, with 5 Sachems 
of the Iroquoise. Gov. Hunter arrixes with re-inforcements and 3 thousand Pala- 
tines who had fled from religious persecution. Old covenant renewed with the 
Iroquoise at Alban}'. In 1711, the grand expedition against Canada, failed ; in 
which Col. Schu3"ler engaged with 50O Iroquoise. Gov. Hunter began to exercise 
the office of Chancellor, contrary to the wishes of the Assembly. In 1711-12, the 
public burdens were oppressive, the debts of the government remained unpaid, and 
unhappy dissentions prevailed. In 1713, new political relations of some import- 
ance grew out of the treaty of Ryswick. In 1720, a dut}' of 2 per cent on Europe- 
an goods, and a prohibition to sell any goods for the Indian trade, to the French ; 
repealed in 1729. In 1722, a trading house established at Oswego, by the gover- 
nor of New- York. First Newspaper published in this state, 1725; and the Tusca- 
roras join the Iroquoise, making the sixth nation. The French Governor of Canada 
visits Onondaga, 1726, and builds two vessels of war on Lake Ontario. In 1727, 
the Governor of N. Y. erected a fort at Oswego, and the French about the same 
time at Niag.ai-a, rival entcrprizes for securing the Indian trade. In 1731, the dis- 
pute of territorial limits amicably settled between N. York and Connecticut, who 
ceded to this state, the Oblong, containing about 60 thousand acres, in exchange 
for some territory surrendered along Long-Island Sound. The French built a fort 
at Crown-Point. First Census of population of this state, 50,291. V. PnoenKssivE 
Population. Disgraceful conduct of the Government with Capt. Campbell, and 
83 Scotch families, with about 600 souls, 1738. The arrival of a large number of 
Merchants, Mariners, &c., from Bermudas, about 1740, proved a valuable acquest 
to the commerce of New-York. In 1744, the M-ar commenced between France and 
England, or the old French war, which proved very distressing to the Colonics 
here. V. 1763. Iron works of all kinds forbidden in these Colonies by act of Par- 
liament, 1750. Grand council of all tlie Colonies at Albany, when Dr. Franklin 
proposed a confederation, 1754 ; King's College, now Columbia, founded. French 
imder Dieskau, defeated at L. George, 1755. Fort Edward built; mild winters 
1755 Ik 6 ; tiie Hudson opened to Albany, Jan. 14, aud Feb. 14. Fort Wm. Henry ca- 
pitulated, 1757, and the garrison inhumanly cut to pieces. Oswego taken by French. 
1758, Gen. Abercrombie defeated at Ticonderoga, Lord Howe killed. 1759, Ti- 
conderoga and Crown-Point taken ; Niagai-a taken by Englisli ; Quebeck and Mont- 
real capitulated to the English. 1762, severest drouth ever known here — no rain 
from May to September. 1763, Canatla confirmed to England by treaty ; the dis- 
putes of territory between New- York and Ncw-Haanpshire, each claiming jurisdic- 
tion of the country now Vermont: became serious, in 1764. INIeeting of Delegates 
at New-York, 1765, to remonstrate against the stamp act; — repealed in 1766. 
1774, a law of this state, by which it was declared felony, punishable by death, for 
the settlers on the lands in Vermont, to o]?posc this government by force ; fovir De- 
legates attend the first general Congress at Philadelphia. 1775, Ticonderoga sei- 
zed by Col. Allen ; Gen. Montgomery's expedition to Canada; killed at O.uebeck. 
1776, Americans expelled from Canada; Inkkpf.kdhnce or the 13 Uxiteu Colonies, 
July 4 ; battle of Long Island; New- York evacuated by the American army, Sept. 
14; battle of the Wliite-Plains, Oct. 28; Fort Washington taken, Nov. 16;" and A- 
mericans retreated through New-Jersey, Nov., Dec. 1777, State Constitution for- 
med and adopted by a convention of Delegates : (revised hi 1801.) Vermont de- 
clared independence, Jan. 16, 1777; Ticonderoga evacuated by Aineric;;n Army; 
Stark's victory at Bennington, Aug. 16; battle of Stillv.ater, Sept, 19; — ofSai-atoga, 
Oct. 7, Burgoyne defeated; Surrender to Gen. Gates, Oct. 17; Forts Independence 
and Clinton taken ; Esopus burnt by the British, Oct 16 ; and Ticonderoga evacua- 
ted by British. 1778, treaty of alliance with Fraiflib, who first formally acknowl- 
edged the Independence of the United States; The mildest winter ever known 
Jiere, I77S-9. First session of the Legislatvu-e under the new and piescnt ccmstitu- 
tion, at Poug-hkeepsie, 1778, since which tliere has been an annual session every 
ycur to this time, and several adiourned sessions. 1779, Stonoy Point taken bv as- 

9 



62 GEKEIIAL VIEW OF KEW-YOKK. 



sault, by General AVayne, July 15 ; General Sullivan defeated tlic Indians of tlie SiK 
Nations or Iroqi'oisc, destroyed their villa.tfes, he, Aug. and Sept. The severest 
winter known in America — Long-Island Sound was passed by lieavy artillery on the 
ice. irSO, dark day; tlie British luider Carleton, made an irruption from Canada, 
took forts Ann and George, and carried off their garrisons ; another party under 
Johnson, ravaged the Mohawk country; Arnold's treason at West-l^oint discovered 
— Andre executed. I78I, the army of the United States marched from W. Point, 
for Virginia, succeeded by the surrender of the British army there, Oct. 19, I78I. 
1782, Circular address of Gen. Washington to tjie Governors of the several states, 
June. 1783, New- York cvacviated by the British, and Gen. Washington makes his 
public entry, Nov- 25. Definitive treaty of peace with G. Britain, ratified by Con- 
j-Tess, Jan. 1784. 1787, the present Constitution of the United States proposed by 
the Convention; acceded to by this State, in 1788, by a majority of 30 to 25 votes. 
In 1788, a division of this state into 14 counties, and those subdivided in.to towns, 
by what was called the new organization act. See GovKnx.xr.NT axd Laws, and I80I. 
Geo. Waslungton, elected first President of the United States, and Congress met 
at New-York, for the first time, under the new Federal Constitution, March 4, 
1789; the Pre.sident took the oaths of oflRce, April 30. 1793, N. \'. Agricultural So- 
ciety Incorporated. 1794, Union College founded, at Scheiicctadv. 1797, Albany 
made the Capital of the state. I80I, new general organization acts of the Legisla- 
ture, dividing the state into 30 counties, and these into towns. Academy of the 
Fine Arts in New-York, founded. 1807, a Steam Boat established on the Hudson, 
for passengers, between New-York and Albany; and in I8II, there were 5 in num- 
ber. 1809-10, Capitol built at Albany, at an expense of 115 thousand dollars. First 
used by the Legislature, session of 1809-10. 

[/if is innch to he regretted that tlic History of the State of J\''e~M-Torh has not been 
brought down to a later period. Smith's Nistorii only extends doiun to 1732 ; and re- 
port has said that nuiTiy materials collected by that Historian, for a continuation of his 
history arc noiv in the possession- of his heirs. Hut it is not merely a civil history that 
is tuanted, thongh this, if -mhU -ivritien, ivoxdd he of immense service. The antiqxdty 
and importance of this Colony, its having been so often a principal theatre of the wars 
and other events -which it is the province of history to detail, that ilie history of this 
State tuoidd necessarily embrace a vast feld, and almost include a history of all the 
J\'orthern States. A comprehensive Civil and J\atural History, is tohat «• vanted; and 
to ivrite one, duly arranged, ivould he a 7vork of great labor. A -u-orlc, hoiuever, o^i 
which I have had an eye for some years, and for vjJiich I have collected a great mass of 
materials. Should not some other person produce such a tvork -icitldn a short 
time, it is my intention to commence it by Tiext summer ; and I embrace this opportunity 
to solicit materials fui' thai purpose.^ 



A SmiMAHY A lEW OF THE 

SETERAI. COUNTIES 

IN THE 

STATE OF NEW YORK. 

JllR.LVGED IJ\' ALPUABETICJlL ORDER. 

ALBANY COUNTY. 

Jlbant! CoiiiUn, Is of very ancient date. In the first Lecclslativc Assembly of this 
Slate, then Coionv, in 1691, Albany Countv had 2 Delegates. There were then l>ut 
9 Counties, and Alljany included all X. of Ulster and Uutcliess- By successive sub- 
divisions, tliis county 'is now restricted to an area of 462 square miles, or 295,680 
acres. It is bounded X. by Schenectady ;jikI Saratoga Counties, E. by the Hudson 
or Kensselaer County, S. by Greene Coimty, W. by Schoharie Count}-. 
TOPOGRArillCAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Pop. St-n. EIpc- 
TowDs. 1810. toi-s,1810. Slaves. Remarks. 

ALC.S.NYCitv, p. 0.9356 665— 254 Albany citv, 1450h.&s.tlie Capitol, lOchurcncs. 

Bern, ' 5136 531 35 BeaverdaJii, Mclderbergliills, & natural caverr.. 

liethleiiem, 4430 41.5—137' Xew-Scotland, Bethleliem, X'orman's kill. 

<'()cymans, r.o. 3574 279 — 101 Coevnians Landing-, 14 miles from Albany. 

Colonic, 1406 108 30 (Johmie V., inc. a Borough of 245 h. & stores. 

Ciiildcrlandt, 2466 243 66 Hamilton V., 56h. & 3 glass works, 8 m. from Alb. 

j{ -nsselaerviUe, 5928 515 21 Kcnsselaerville, ' The City,' a small Village. 

W'a'i/jrvliet, 2365 ^215—128 -Gibbonsville, opposite Troy, "Washington, the 

. [Cohoes, the BoglU. 

34,661 2971 772 
The soil and surface of Albany county, are very much diversified. Along the. 
Hudson which forms its eastern boundary, are some pretty extensive alluvial fiats, 
as there are also on the Xorman's kill ; but along the Mohawk, which washes its 
northern extremity, the Land is rugged, broken, and mostiv barren and sterile. — 
Tlie western part 'is broken by the' Heldcrberg hills, where "the soil is principally 
a calcareous loam. The interior is princii)allj" occupied by elevated sandy planis, 
wooded with pine, with many sinall marshes and tracts of cold and wet sand or 
clay, producing little else than dwarf shrubbery and sedge-grass. From the Hel- 
dcrberg hills to the Hudson, a soft blue fetid clay forms' the general substratum, 
at various depths, and surmuvnited by saivl, loam, or an indifli-rent species of 
marlc. Some little blocks of calcareous, and one or two samples of siliclovis gra- 
nite appear, but the rocks arc principally fragile shistus, as at the Cohoes, and at 
Xorman's kill. Although this county contain the political Capital of the State, the 
general centre of im7nen;,e commerce, trade, and intercourse, a large share of tlui 
l.ands are yet uncultivated. Between Albany and Schenectady, are extensive pine- 
plains, covered M"ith wood, and the soil oiicii's little encouragement to agricultural- 
ists Mt the present day. Of the mineralogy and geology, little else can be said, 
except that it afiisrds peat, marie and limestone^ several small mineral springs, 
either weak chalybeates or sulphuretted hydrogene, of some use in scorbutic ai- 
fections. llepori, indeed, has said that lead has been found hi this county, and 
that mineral coal is latel) discovered, but in what quantity or with what indica- 
tions, I do not learn. There are several small creeks, the largest of which is Xor- 
man's, which receives Bou/.a kill or creek from Schenectady County ; and Coey- 
mans creek, and Bethlehem creek, are also small mill-streams, with one or two 
others. Catskill creek rises in the S. W. part of this county, and runs through 
Cireene County ; and Schoharie creek receives also some small waters from the 
western part. Albany County has been settled since about 1610 ; and the late, rap- 
id increase of population is seen bj' a comparison of the Census of 1810, with that 
of 1800. In 1800, the population wa:, .: !,013 ; in 1810. 31/561; ;md that of Schc- 



64 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 

ncctady Co., -which had been erected fr»m Albaiw since 1800 10,247 ; making- an 
Hgg-reg-atc increase of 10,855 persons in 10 years. See Albany City. 

Albany, the Capital of tlie State, is also the capital of the county, and has been 
incorporated as a city since 1686. It is situated on the W. bank of the Hudson, 
160 miles N. of New-York, and the site is peculiarly uneven. The City charter 
extends but one mile along the river ; but in tliis general view, tlie whole compact 
population may be regarded as belonging- to Albany, though tlie incorporated Vil- 
lage, or tlie Borough of Colonic, be in another Town. But excluding these nice 
legal distinctions, a Stranger sees at Albany, a Town. and suburbs, comprising a 
population of 12,000 inhabitants, about 1800 houses, and 10 churches or houses for 
public worship, some of which are very large and elegant, beside a gTciit number 
of public buildings, and an immcHse trade carried on by the Hudson, and with the 
surrounding countrj-. He finds himself also, at a city of the most ancient date of 
any in the United States, and one commanding the most wealth, in proportion to 
its population. From this spot, turnpikes and otlier roads lead off in every direc- 
tion, so tliat the Coimty of Albany has roads in profuse abundance. 

As aman\ifacturing county, Albany takes a higli rank, as it does in every species 
of enterprize ar.d iinprovement. There are in this county, 39 giain-mills, which 
grind 257,860 bushels grain in ajear; 69 Saw-mills, producing 4,900,220 feet 
boards ; 8 Carding machines, 10 Fulling-mills or clothieries, 31 Tanneries, 4 Distil- 
leries, 10 Hatteries, 3 Cop])er-smiths, 5 Breweries, a Gun factory, a Bell founder}', 
where are also made Survej'ors' iiiStruments, and plated wares of su]5erior workman- 
ship ; 2 Air furnaces, 3 Glass furnaces, and many other smaller establishments, be- 
.sides many large ones for the manufacture of leather into boots, shoes, saddles, 
liarness, &c., to a very great amount. It appears also, by the late census, tiiat there 
are 1169 looms, 6484 Spinning-wheels, and 34,342 Slieep; while the product of 
household industry yields 87,272 yards of woolen cloth; and 145,282 of cotton and 
linnen cloth. Pleasure and other wheel-carriages are annually made to a great 
iimoujit ; considerable shipping", and there are many artificers in metals, excluded 
from the above enumeration. Castings of iron are done in a superior style at tlie 
air-fui'uaces, and to a very great amount, establishments that do honor to the place, 
and are very productive to Uieir pro]n-ietors. The large Tobacco manufactiu'ing 
establishment owned by ]Mr. James Caldwell, an eminent merchant oftitis city, 
lias long been regarded with peculiar interest ; as well that it is the largest of tlie 
kind in the United States, as that it has been twice destroyed by fire, and imme- 
diately rebuilt by its entcrpriising proprietor. Dr. Morse, the celebrated Ameri- 
can Geographer, visited this establishment some years since, when the manufacto- 
ries embraced a much greater variety than at this time. At present 4 he manufac- 
ture of mustard, pease, starch, hair-powder, are principally discontinued, while 
those of tobacco, snuff, segars, chocolate, and barley, are proportionably extended. 
The wliole capital employed, exceeds §150,000, and employs about 60 persons. 
Tlie buildings and yards occupy an acre of ground ; and the machinei'y which Is very 
extensive and ingenious, is put in motion by a fine stream of water. Tliis estab- 
lishment is about one mile from the Capitol, near the Manor House of the honora- 
ble Stephen Van llensselaer. It is worthy of remark that the proprietor of these 
works lost by various fires, about §75,000, in 8 jxars. — Albany County sends 4 
Members to the House of Assembly. 

ALLEGANY COUNTY. 

Allegany Covniy, was erected from Genesee Co., in 1806. It is about 40 miles 
Jong N. and S., and 28 E. and W. ; bounded N. by Genesee County, E. by Steuben 
Co., S. by Penn.sylvanla, W. by Cataraugus Covmtj-. The area, 1120 square miles. 

TOPOGIiAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Towns. ropulatioii, 1810. Sen. Electors, T! 10. 

13 

35 

17 

99 

1 

1942 165 



Alfred, 


273 


AxdKi.irA, r.o. 


439 


Caneadea, 


515 


Nunda, 


499 


Oasiaii, 


216 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 65 



The first settlement commenced in 1804, by Philip Cliurch, Esq., a large propri- 
etor. This county is watered by the Genesee river, whicli holds a devious course 
from S. to N., nearly central througli the whole count}-, and which receives many 
small streams from every part. In the S. W. corner, some small waters collect that 
form the CJ.stern sources of the Allegany river. And the N. W. corner gives rise 
to some small sources of Cataraugus creek. The soil of this county is with justice 
reckoned of superior richness — though there be considerable broken land. Along 
the Genesee, the alluvial flats aie very extensive and rich, and there are similar 
tracts along the smaller streams. The soil is mostly a brown or reddish loam, very 
deep, and resting on a coarse gi-avel. In general, the soil seems better adapted 
for gi-ass than grain, at present, though exhaustion and culture will probably ren- 
der it a good medium soil ^'or a rotation of crops, tlie great desideratum in agi-i- 
culture. The new and unimproved state of this county, affords little room for enu- 
meration of improvements, though roads are opened and much has been done to 
encourage anticipation of future prosperity. Turnpike roads arc now opening from 
I3u.th to Angelica, and thence to the Allegany rivei-. A jail is erected at Angelica, 
and money appropriated for a court-house. Tlie Merino has been introduced here, 
and the common spirit of improvement in agriculture, which pervades the whole 
state. There are about 80 looms, which produce 23,000 yards oi' cloth ; — some 
-tanneries, grain and saw-mills, asheries, and 4 or 5 whiskey-mills, or small distil- 
leries. Angelica, the shire town, and nearly central in the count}-, is situated 285 
miles, a little S. of \V. from Albam-. The temperatures and tlie weather, belong 
to the description of the western or inland climate of the western region; and the 
peach, apple, pear, melon, Stc, are raised in great pei-fection and abundance. Al- 
legany elects one Member of Assembly, in connexion with Steuben Coimty. 



BROOME COUNTY. 

Broome CounUi, was erected from Tioga Co., in 1806, and named in honor of the 
late Lieutenant-(iOvcrnor, John Broome. It is bounded northerly by Cortlandt and 
Chenango Counties, E. by Delaware Co., S. by Pennsylvania, W. by Tioga County. 
The S. line is 42 miles long ; the W., 27 ; the N. ana'E. are indent'yd by Chenango 
Co., giving an area to Broome of 880 squai-e mil^, or 563,200 acres. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- PopuU Sen. Elec- 
Towns. Offices, isio. tors, l8:o. RemavUs. 

Berkshire, 1* 1105 90 Westvillc, r.o. 160 miles from Albany. 

Cnr.NA>-Go, 1 1420 89 Cfiencmq-o-Point, p.o. 45 h. and s., 148 m. from Albany. 

Lisle, P.O. 2157 172 120 miles from Albany. 

Tioga, 1 500 51 Owego, r.o. 42 houses and stores, 170 m. from Albany, 

Union, p.o. 1 987 115 Nanticoke, p.o. 150 miles from Albany. 

Windsor, 2 1960 138 Oquago, p.o. 120 m.from A.; Colesville,p.o. 125m.fr. A, 

8 8129 655 

Broome County, is abundantly Avatered by the Susquehanna and its branches, 
the largest of which are Clicnango crepk, the Tioughnioga, which also receives Ot- 
selick creek, Owego creek, which forms a principal part of the western boundary, 
Nanticoke creek, and some others with their numerous small branches. Tlie 
country is consideraldy broken by hills, though the vallies are pretty extensive 
and rich ; — the soil being a gravelly loam, while the hills have pretty "uniformly a 
hard-pan near the surface. The Susquehanna is boataljle throughout, and several 
of the creeks afford boat navigation, with fine sites for mills in profuse abund.ince. 
This county began to settle about 1790, principally by farmers from the western 
part of Massachusetts, who found here a country of land pretty similar to that 
they had left. And the manners of the people, with their social character, and in- 
dustry and husbandry, are not unworthy their origin, which is clearly seen by any- 
one acquainted in both places. They are as good farmers, as members of society 
— and having bettered their fortunes, are enjoying the ease of independence wifh 



Fo7- explanation of these characters, see page 8, 



66 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



bocoining dignity. There are a competent number of comrnon mechanics, tliouf^-h 
iJie inl',abitants are principally occupied in agx-iculture, and manufacture their 
own clothing— and the roads are good and conveniently disposed. There are aboiit 



jjuuiiaiiLs (^ttXiV ^;:\ ji-Luinc ui t-iic iiciiiumichs. ui uic ciiiiiiiie, in iiieu personal appeai'- 
.nnce and g-eneral ]n-osi>erity. It is almost superfluous to add tlmt common schools 
are \\eU siipi^ortcd. Broome sends 1 INIember to the Assembly. 

CATARAUGUS COUNTY. 

Cataravgiis Cmmty, was erected from Genesee Co., ]\rarch, 1808. It is bounded 
IsT. by Cataraugus oreck, or Niagara and Genesee Counties ; E. by Allegany County ; 
S. by the state of Pennsylv;uiia; "W. by Chatauqua County. Its form is very regu- 
lar, being o8 miles E. and W., and about 34 N. and S. ; giving an area of about 
1292 square miles, or 826,880 acres. At present, this whole territory is organized 
in one Town ; and by the act of the Legislature, the whole county forms a part of 
Niagara County until it shall have attained a popvdation of 500 inhabitants qualifi- 
ed to vote for members of the House of Assembh^ It is therefore but a provisional 
county at present, and the population by the Census ot 1810, is returr.ed at 458L 
See Olcdi'i. 

It is a pretty good tract of country, watered by the numerous streams that form 
the Allegany river, a main branch of the Ohio, which aljundantly^ irrigate tlie sou- 
thern part. The northern is watered by Cataraugus creek, on which it is bounded, 
and by its numerous branches. The C<jnnewongo, also receives some of its waters 
■from "the western part. In the S. part there is some hilly land, but the whole may 
be pronounced a good tract for agriculture. 15eside the streams above named, 
ihere are a multitude of little creeks with long names, a bare catalogue of which 
"wculd fill a page : but Oil, l.jhua, or Olcan creeks", the larg-est of those, have settle- 
ments which deserve notice. Ti)e land belonged to the Holland Company, except- 
ing some small Indian reservations. Xo county in the state, is better furnished 
with sites for water-works. At present there are 10 saw and 4 grain-mills, belong- 
ing to the English or white inhabitants, and 1 saw-mill owned by the Indians, ne;u' 
^-heir principal settlement on the Allegany river. The legislature luis granted a 
iurnpike from Angelica bridge to Allegany river. A village is laid out, at the 
^Tiouth of the Olean, called Hamiilou, which is populating fast. The Allegany is here 
16 rods wide ; the Olean 6 to 8. This is the point of embarkation for traders and 
-emigrants descending the Allegan}-, and is situated about 320 miles westerly from 
All)anv. Boats and Arks pass from liere down the Allegany, Ohio and Alissisippi ; 
^jtnd a Correspondent writes me he has just returned from a profitable voyage to 
Kcw-Orleans,. with the produce of this country, principally lumber. " X society of 
••iiuakcrs, has settled near the Indian tov.n, on the Allegany, for the huniane pur- 
poses of instructing the Indians in agriculttu-e, and the arts of civilized life."* The 
<elel.Tated Oil iSpring, which produces the Seneca oil, is near the eastern extremi- 
ty of this county. It belongs to the Indians, who reserved a mile square here, in- 
<;luding the spring. The proposed site for the Comity buildings, is on the Great 
Valley Creek, 325 miles westerly from Albany. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE, CENSUS, he. 1810. 

Towns. Pop. Sen. Electors. 

Oican, 458 43 Hamilton, M'Clure's Settlement, Hocps's, Oil Spring. 



CAYUGA COUNTY. 

Caipi^a County, was erected from Onondaga Co., in 1799. Tlie form of this coun- 
tf is very irregular, which may be seen on the Map. On the N., where it is very 

* J\1S. Letter. 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 67 

narro\v, it is bounded on Lake Ontario, E. by Onondag-a and Cortlandt counties, 
S. by Tiog'a Clo., W. by Seneca County, being' bounded \V. on the Cayuga lake. It& 
greatest length N. and S. is 70 miles ; greatest width, 20 miles. The whole area 
may be 845 square miles, or 540,800 acres. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Towns. P.Offices. No. Famil. Pop. 1810. Remarks, Villages, &c. 

AcHKiius, p.o.l 765 4642 Anbicrn V., 100 h. & s. ; Cayuga V., 40 h. p.o. 179 

Brutus, 330 2030 175 miles from Albany. [m. from Albany. 

Cato, 191 1075 160 m. from Albany ; 18 from Oswego. 

Dryden, p.o. 310 1890 35 m. S. of Auburn, 170 W. from Albany. 

Genoa, r.o.l 827 5425 Tetertown, Kingsfeny, p. o. 

Locke, P.O. 399 2388 170 m. W. from Albany, 23 S. E. from Auburn. 

Mentr;, 204 1207 Montezuma, 30 h., 12m. from Auburn, 170fi-om 

Owasco, P.O. 143 946 168 miles W. from Albany. [Aibanv. 

Scipio, P.O. 1 104 7100 AuroraV. 180 m. from A Ibany ; Union sprnigs p.o. 

Sempronius, p.o. 516 3137 MontviUe, 164 m. from Albany ; Owasco Flats. 

9 4,789 29,840 

The County of Cayuga, presents a surface considerably broken and hillv, having 
a. range of hills that extend northward from Broome Count}', being a spur of the 
Apallachian ridges. The rocks are calcai-eous, but intermixed witli sand, Tiiesi; 
lulls range parallel witli Cayuga lake, and subside toward the N. ; but tlie coun- 
try, thougli elevated, and characterized by a cooler temperature in general than 
the level tracts to the AV., is not mountainous. The soil is good, the surface pret- 
ty well watered ; — its products various, like those of the surrounding countiy, 
and in luxuriant aljundance. Thei'e arc few better farming counties in the State. 
Poplar ridge, whicli extends N. and S. through the county, is said to be elevated in 
some parts, near 1000 feet above the surface of Cayuga L. ; and tlic slope of descent is 
closely covered by farms on each side. Tliis cwmtrj' abounds much with calcareous 
petrifactions ; and the lime-stones, with impressions resembling muscle-shells, less 
common in the harder varieties. There are several small creeks that alibi'd good 
sites for mills ; and Seneca river or creek, after forming a part of the weslcra 
boundary, crosses the county running eastward. The Owasco lake is v.liolly witli- 
in this county, and Lake Ontario, the Cayuga, Skeneateles, and Cross lakes, form 
parts of the exterior limits. Salt Springs are found and wrought to considerable 
amount, and lime-stone, which quarries well, and makes good lime, abounds iii 
every part. 

The domestic manufactures of this coimty, will best exliibit the opulence and 
industry of the inliabitants. The taxable property, falls little short of §2,000,000. 
The Senatorial Electors in 1810, 2,460. The number of Sheep, 49,000; of looms, 
1360, which produce 340,870 yards cloth annually, of woolen, linen, cotton, &mi.\ed. 
TJierc are 19 tanneries, 47 distilleries, 48 asheries, 11 carding machines, 11 clotii- 
ieries, 3 oil mills, an air-furnace, trip-hammer, several nail I'actoi-ies, 6 eartiiern- 
ware factories, hatters' siiops, &c. About 2,500 skeins of silk are produced annu- 
ally, :md near 60,000 bushels of salt. The inliabitants clothe themselves i)r,i'cipally 
in the products of their own families; and, were it not for the exorbitant number 
of their distilleries, I should add, are very temperate and industrious, the character 
tclven them by my Corresjjondents. In a country that may ailbrd cider ijisuch abun- 
<lance, ardent spirits should yield to this cheap and wJiolesome beverage, or to 
liiait-liquors. Cayuga sends 3 Members to the Assembly. 



CHATAUQUA COUNTY. 

Chataiiqiia Cormti/, lies W. of Cataraugus Co., and was creeled at tJie s.ame time, 
from Genesee County, and like, t]uit attached to Niagara, on the. same conditions. 
It is boimded N. by Cataraugus creek, or a smtdl corner of Niagara Co.; E. by Cata- 
raugus Co.; S. by Pennsylvania; W. by Peimsylvania, an extent of 18 miles, and 
N. V/. by Lake Erie, or tlie British possessions in Upper Canada. Its hind ai-ea, jy 
ii^M -qture inik'.'i, or 5.50,120 acre.^^. 



68 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOHK. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE, CENSUS, &c. of 1810. 
Towns. P.Offices. Population. Sen. Electors. Remarks, Villages, Settlements, (6-c. 

CuATAuauA, P.O. 1039 90 MaysviUe, 3J7 miles from Albany. 

Pomfret, p.o. 1 1342 213 Camidaway, p.o. 350 miles from Albany. 

3 2381 303 

This county is v^atered by many small streams that fall into Lake Erie, the prin- 
cipal of which, are Canadaway and Chatauqiia creeks ; and it furnishes the sources 
of French creek and Connewong-o, waters of tJie Allegany river of the Ohio. 
The Cosdaiig-a, empties into the .outlet of Chatauqiia Lake ; and there are ma- 
ny other small streams spread over the country, so that the whole is well furnished 
with those, and with convenient mill sites. The Chatauqua lake, about 18 miles 
long, lies near the centre of the county, and discharges eastward into Connewongo 
creek. The Cosdauga lake, much smaller, discharges Cosda^ga creek. JVIuch has 
been said of opening a canal, connecting Chatauqua lake with L. Erie, and here was 
an Indian portage of only 9 miles. But a far greater object, is to connect the 
streams that fall into L. Ontario, with those of the Allegany, and thus open a direct 
intercourse. But the Great Western Canal, contemplated by this state, when once 
made to connect the waters of L. Erie and the Hudson, by a good boat navigation, 
will obviate the want of either of those. This county is fast inci-easing in popu- 
lation, but is at present comparatively new. The soil is good, and the surface 
not too much dixersified for farming. The growth of timber is heavy, and for the 
variety, and the climate, see the article Clijiate and Skasons, page 12. Niagara, in 
connexion with Cataraugus and Chatauqua counties, sends 1 Member to the Assembly. 



CHENANGO COUNTY, 

Chenango CoimUf, was erected from Herkimer and Tioga counties, in 1798, the 
K. part of which was erected into Madison Co., in 1806; bounded N. by Madison 
Co., E. by Otsego and Delaware Counties, S. by Broome Co., W. by Broome and 
Cortlandt Counties. Its form is irregular; the greatest length N. and S., 35 miles; 
greatest width, 28 miles, v.'lth an area of 780 square miles, or 499,200 acres This 
gives 27.7 persons to a square mile. Free white males, 11,368; do. females, 10,180; 
ii-ee persons of color, TQi; slaves, 13: total 21,637, agreeable to the Marshal's re- 
turn sen-t me, though 21,702 seems to have been given to the public records. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- Pop. Sen. Flee- 

Towns. Offices. IS 10. tors, 18 lO. A'illages, Eemavks, &c. 

Columbus, v.». 1389 96 88 miles W. from AlhauA', 30 from Utica. 

Coventry, 860 49 110 miles W. from Albany- 
German, P.O. 1519 — 201 120 miles W. from Albau}'. 

Greene, p.o. 1279 64 120 miles W. from Albany. [124 m. from Alb.iny. 

Jericho, 2 1608 — 117 Jericho Bridg-e, r.o., 115 m., and Bettsburgh, p.o. 

New-Berlin, r.o. 1632 — 179 86 m. W. from Albany, 'o5 m. W. of S. from Utica. 

NoKwic.H, P.O. 1 2550 — 298 J\'orivich V., 45 h., 100 m. from X. ; N.Norwich, p.o. 

Oxford, p. o 1 2988—302 Oxford V., inc., 64 h., 110 fr. A. ; Knappsburgh, p.o. 

Pharsalia, 480 42 114 m. W. fr. A., 45 S. W. fr. Utica, 122 fr. Cutskill. 

Plymouth, p. o. 1286 — 114 Francisville, 107 m. from A., 7 N.W. from Norwich. 

Preston, 1008—136 115 miles W. from Albany. 

Sherbiu'nc, r.o. 2428—293 Sherburne V., 40 h., 98 m."fr. A., 33 S.W. fr. Utica. 

Smitliville, 995 43 120 miles iVom Albany. 

Smyrna, r.o. 1344 93 105 m. W. from Albany, 36 S. W. from Utica. 

13 21348 2027 

Chenango County, is wliolly watered by the v.irious waters of tlie Susquehan- 
na; and the main or E. branch of that river, run.s across the S. E. corner; the 
(Jhenango creek or river, rises in M.adison Co., penetrates the whole extent of 
Chenango Co., and leaves it at the S. W. extremity. The Uiiadilla, forms a large 
part of its eastern boun<lary, and the Ocselick creek, wh.icli also rises in Madi- 
son Co., crosses the N. \\ .'ccrricr of Chenango. Beside these, their numerous- 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 69 

small branches abundantly irrigate every part, and supply a profusion of sites 
f'or mills. The general surface of this covmty is elevated, and considerably bro- 
ken and hilly ; but while it presents the greater diversity of surface and soil, 
it affords a large proportion of good land for f'r.rming. The progressive increase 
of population in this county, sufficiently indicates the prosperity of its inhabi- 
tants. See the general Table, page 6-7. In 1800, the county of Chenango contain- 
ed 15,666 inhabitants ; 21,637 in I8I0, and Madison, which had been ti.ken from 
Chenango, 25,144, giving an aggregate increase of 31,115, in 10 years ; iriciuding 
the population of one Town annexed to Chenango, from Oneida Co.^, in 1804. 
This county is principally settled by imigrants from the eastern states. It ori,:;i- 
nally included the 20 Townships of the ' Governor's purchase,' a part of which are 
now in Madison Co. The agriculture is respectable, and the people are, in gene- 
ral, farmers ; but while they are entitled to credit for their com,nou schools and 
social regulations, with their general industry, and care of the education of their 
children, tliey ought to exclude a multitude of small distilleries. No invidious 
discrimination prompts this remark, too generally necessary throughout tlie State 
-—but thinking and sober men would do well to consider tl-.e tendencies of these 
little establishments, and to observe their effects in a neighborhood. Cider is a 
wholesome, cheap beverage, which may be readily supplied m profusion, to every 
part of the State ; and malt-liquors are vi^holesome and nutritious. Will people 
use equal industry to encourage the growth of an orchard of apple-trees, when 
once addicted to a habit of exchanging their rye and othel' grain for whiskey ? 
Or will they fail to contract habits of drinking more than is conducive to health or 
comfort, when a jug of it is eitlier constantly at hand, or can be had in a ftw min- 
utes fresh from the distillery ? But these observations apply equally to most of 
the western counties, and they are deserving of notice. 

The domestic manufactures of this county, are evidence of the industry of the 
inhabitants. There are 900 looms, which produce annually of woollen, linen, and 
mixed cloths, 217,571 yards ; 37,800 yards are dressed at the FuUing-Milis, 39,000 
pounds wool carded at machines, about 10,000 ib.?. nails manufactured, 7,000 gal- 
lons beer, 3,000 of linseed oil, and 8 tanneries which make into leather about 6,U0O 
hides ; beside 59,665 gallons of whiskey distilled from grain. — The amount of tax- 
able property, agreeable to the Assessors' Books for 1810, 1,725,504 dollars. Chs- 
nango sends 3 Members to the House of Assembly. 

CLINTON COUNTY. 

Clinton County, was erected by the general organization ^ct, in 1788, and it is 
almost superfluous to add that it was named In honor of Gov. Clinton, tlie present 
Vice-Presidfent of the United States. It occupies the N. eastern extremity of the 
State, along the W. shore of Lake Champlain. In 1799, Essex Co. was erected 
from the southern part of Clinton County ; and in 1808, Franklin Co., was erected 
from the western part. Clinton Co., is now bounded N. by Canada, E. by L. Cham- 
plain or the State of Vermont, S. by Essex Co., W. by Franklin County. Its great- 
est length N. and S., is 40^ miles ; greatest width, 31 miles ; and the area is about 
1064 square miles including the waters of the lake, or 680,000 acres. 
TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- Pop. Sen. Klec- 
TowM. Offices. 1810. tors, 1810. Remarks, 

Champlain, p.o. 1210 92, Champlain V., 190 m. from Albany; Point-au-fer. 

Chazy r.o. 1466 &3, DuerVille, 186 miles from Albany. 

Mooers, 311 .3-;^, oyo mjigg fj.^^^ Albany. [35 h. & s. 

Peru, P.O. 1933 162, Union Village, 45 h. & stores, Hackstaff's mills V. 

PiATTSJiURGii, P.O. 3112 224, Flattsburgh V., inc., 170 miles N. from Albany. 

4 8032 574 

The County of Clinton derives considerable 'advantages from the navigation of 
Lake Champlain. And the country is well supplied with p-ood sized mill streams, 
abounding with falls and fine sites for mills and every kind of machinery driven by 
water. The country abounds with iron ore ; and other valuable nvetals though yet 
undiscovered m large quantities, are known to exist thsi-e. Of. the plains, or low 

10 



70 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



level lands, which ai-e extensive along the lake, the soil is prmcipally argillaceous, 
or, less mixed with sand, a stiff and very pure clay. There are some tracts of 
sand, and some of loam, but these are of comparatively small extent ; and mold, 
and alluvial tracts are very rare. The gi'eat Au-Sable, forms a part of the south- 
ern boundary ; the Saranack, which rises in Essex and Franklin Counties, runs 
westward and enters L. Champlain at Cumberland bay. The Chazy, which rises in 
Franklin County, holds a devious course across the northern part of Clinton Co., 
and enters L. Champlain at Au-Fer bay ; while the little Chazy, spreads over the 
country to the S. of Chazy. All of these streams abound with rapids and falls, and 
are of little use for navigation. The western part is traversed by some lofty ridg- 
es of the Peru mountains, though less rugged and elevated than in Essex County. 
The state of manufactures in this county, may be seen under MAjfuFAcxuiiEs, and 
the inhabitants clothe themselves principally from the products of household in- 
dustry. The state of improvements in agriculture, is comparatively respectable ; 
and the inhabitants are characterized by Correspondents, as peaceable and indus- 
trious in general. The rigors of an inland climate in the latitude of 45" N., leave 
little time for the lassitude of idleness, or dissipation ; a circumstance friendly to 
moral virtue, and to vigor of body and mind. 

COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Columbia County, on the E. side of the Hudson, was one of the counties orga- 
nized in ir88, by the general organization act: But it was first erected 1786, from 
Albany county, and then sent 3 members to the Assembly. It is bounded on the 
N. by Rensselaer Co., E. by Massachusetts, S. by Dutchess Co., W. by Hud- 
son river, or by Greene, and a small part of Ulster County ; being about 30 miles 
long on the river, 36 on the E. line, with a medial width of 18 miles, and an 
area of 594 square miles, or 380,160 acres; which gives 54.4 persons to a square 
mile. Situated between 42" 30 ' & 41" 56 ' N. latitude ; 06 ' & 41 ' E, longitude from 
New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Population, Sen. Elec. 
Towns. 1810. 1810. Villages, &c., Local Names of places, crc. 

Canaan, p.t.— 4941 606 N.Lebanon V., P.O., 28; N.L. Springs, 29m. S.E. of A. 

Chatham, r.o. — 3381 373 Concord V., New-Britain, Fed. store, 23 from A. 

Claverack, 3593 579 Claverack V., 36 m. S. fr. Albany ; 3 S. E. fr. Hudson. 

Clermont, p.o. — 1090 88 Clermonthouse & Manorh.ofLivingstonj50m.fr. A. 

Gallatin, 2471 ^307 Ancram Iron Works, 55 miles S. from Albany. 

Gcrmantown, 690 82 E.Camp,or Germantown, set. by Palatine sold'rs 1710. 

Granger, 2614 168 Linlithgow, Unity mills; 12 m. S. E. from Hudson. 

Hillsdale, p.o. — 4182 517 Spencertown V., 25h. p.c, Nobletown, Green river. 

Hudson, p.o. — 4048 536 Hudson city, 600 h. 8c s, 30 miles S. from Albany. 

Kinderhook, p.o. — 3709 351 Kinderhook V., 45 h. &. some elegant Mansions. 

Livingston, p.o. — 1651 155 Johnstown V., 42 m. fr. Alb'y. Oak Hill, 40 from A. 

7 32370 3742 

The County of Columbia, though restricted to a comparatively small area, is one 
of the most opulent counties in the state. In aggi-egate population, it is the 12th 
in rank, and about tlie 7th, comparing area with number of inhabitants. The sur- 
face is considerably diversified, though no part can be called mountainous. An 
elevated tract of hills occupies the eastern border, principally shistic ; and slate- 
stone of many technical varieties, is the most abundant throughout, though ledges 
of lime-stone, and tracts of calcareous soils are found in many parts. From tlie 
hilly tract that occupies from five to ten miles of the eastern part, the intermedi- 
ate country is but gently undulated to the Hudson. Ranges of small hillocks are 
interspersed witli extensive plains or vallies, and much of rich alluvion. 

In the southern part, the soil is a deep and warm gravel, agreeably undulated, 
and well adapted for either grain or grass. About Hudson, there is considera- 
ble argillaceous soil, and some small calcareous tracts, with hills and ledges of lime- 
stone. But between the western borders of the hilly tract on the E., and the vici- 
nity of the Hudson, are level tracts of shistic gi-avel, extending N. and S. through 
the whole county, partially interspersed with gentle swells of soft slate-stone, or 
resting on a soft and friable fragile shistus. And this may confidently be pronoun- 



GENERAL. VIEW OF COUNTIES. 71 

ced one of the best farming districts in the state ; though from the want of proper 
management, much of it now appears exhausted, and timber is very scarce. The vale 
of New-Lebanon, has a rich soil of alluvion and extensive alluvial flats, as there are 
also in considerable proportion thi-oughout the level intermediate tract above de- 
scribed. 

The Hudson, forms the western boundary of this county, and receives from it 
the waters of some very valuable ci-eeks and smaller streams. Abram's or Factory 
creek, the largest, and one of the best streams cf its size in the United States, for 
the abundance of fine sites for mills, enters the Hudson 4 miles above the city 
of Hudsqn. This stream, with its various branches, collect the waters from 7 lOths 
of the whole area of the county. See the Map. Lebanon creek, rises in the vale of 
New-Lebanon, and running westward passes into Rensselaer Co., for a short dis- 
tance, then winding S. W., receives many small streams from Canaan, the outlet 
of Whiting's Pond, and others, from Chatham and Hillsdale, and from Rensse- 
laer Co., and passing Kinderhook Village, loses its name for Kinderhook creek, 
and runs S. W. or nearly S. till it meet Claverack creek, within a mile of the Hud- 
son, and takes thence the name of Abram's or Major Abram's creek, or better Fac- 
tory creek, in some use. The Topography of Towns, notices more minutely the 
advantages for water works ; but the superiority of Kinderhook creek, another 
Brandywine, merits more particular notice here. 

Claverack creek, the main southern branch, collects its waters from various small 
streams in Clavei-ack, Granger, Hudson, and a part of Livingston, flows b)- Claver- 
ack Village, and runs N., nearly parallel with the Hudson, till it meet Kinderhook 
creek, as above mentioned. This is also a good stream for mills. RoelofF Jan- 
sen's, or Ancram creek, rises in Hillsdale, crosses the E. part of Granger, winds 
tlirough Gallatin and Livingston, to the Hudson. This stream drives the machine- 
ry at Ancram Iron works, and is pretty good for mills. 

The mineralogy of this county has been little investigated. Some brief noti- 
ces of its mineral products may be seen under Miveualggt, page 23. Lead ore, 
in a gangart of pellucid quartz and blue shistus, has been found witliin the cor- 
poration of Hudson, yielding 80 per cent of lead. Some lead ores have also been 
found in the form of galena, in Canaan, and one or two other toAvns. As usual, 
these ores have a small proportion of silver. Lime-stone is sufiiciently abun- 
dant. Slate, of a good quality for roofing of houses is found. Serpentine, and 
some other micaceous stones are found in Canaan; and a considerable variety of 
ochres or pigments for paints are found near Hudson, which will at some future 
period of our histor)^, rise into consequence. Considerable search has been made 
in this vicinity for mineral coal, in consequence of supposed indications of that 
substance, but without success. 

Tlie thermal water of New-Lebanon, is of some celebrity ; and a strongly im- 
pregnated sulphuretted spring in the vicinity of Hudson, on the land of Joseph 
Power, will rise into notice as the efficacy of its waters becomes known. 

The manufactures of this county, very considerable and improving, are shown 
under Manufactures, page 49. In prosperous times, a profitable trade is carried 
on from Hudson, tlie capital of the county, with foreign countries, to a lai'ge 
amount. Indeed the rapid growth of this city, was principally occasioned by its 
foreign commerce ; and as it gi-ew with that, so with that it must probably de- 
cline. The state of agriculture in this county is fiist improving, and it now sup- 
plies a vast amount of surplus products, principally grain, beef, pork, and live- 
stock, well adapted for West-India markets. The roads are very numerous and 
pretty good ; and turnpikes, too numerous for public or private interest, having 
been fairly tried, ai-e either falling into disrepute, or becomii>g public property 
by mere abandonment. 



CORTLANDT COUNTY. 

Cortlandt Conntii, was erected from Onondaga County in 1808, and named In 
honor of the Cortlandt family. Its form is very regular, being nearly an objong 
square, 25 miles in length N. and S., and 19 in width : bounded N. by Ononda= 
ga County, E. by Madison and Chenango Counties, S. by Broome County, W. by 
Cayuga County. The ap?a is A,7S square miles, or 304,000 acres. 



7ETTEER Or^ r^i^ W-YORK. 



TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 



Towtis. P, Offices. Pop. mo. Remarks. 

Cincinnatus, p.o. 1537 140 m. W. from Albany 



PreLle, 
Solon, 
Truxton, 
Virgilj 




Bed of Iron Ore. 
JfomerY., 70h.&s., 145 rn.; Port Watson, p.o., 142 m. W. 
150 m. W. from Alh'y. 25 S. from Salina. [fr. Albany. 
1.S2 m. W. from Albany, 31 S. from Salina. 
Triixton V., 20 houses" and stores, 142 m. W. from A. 
Virgil, 160 m. from Albany, 36 S. from Skeneateles. 



8793 



The County of Cortlandt is well watered by springs and rivulets, and is penetra, 
ted by the Tioughnioga creek from N. to S. nearly through its centre. The Otse- 
lick, waters^ the S. E. corner, and some small streams rise in the S. western ex- 
tremity, which run into Owego creek, and some others into Cayuga lake. These 
streams, with a small inlet to the Skeneateles lake, furnish abundance of fine sites 
for mills. The svu-face is but gently uneven, and the soil, which is principally a 
gravelly loam, forms a first rate mec'Uum for grain or grass. It is a yellowish loam 
in genei-al, re.-iting on a shistic or calcareous gravel, deep, moist aiid warm. The 
timber is maple, elm, beech, bass-wood or linden, butternut, &c., with some groves 
of pine. Some salt springs, and sulphcretted, and chalybeate springs are found, 
and iron ore, though none of these are much noticed. The taxable property 
amounts to 482,005 dollars, agreeable to the Supervisors' books for 1810. The 
Senatorial Electors, are 851. The inhabitants are principally farmers, clothed with 
the products of household industry. For manufactures, see the general Table, page 
50. The sale of potash, with live slock for eastern markets, are the principal sources 
of receipts fi-om surplus jiroducts at present. The agriculture is respectable, and 
Correspondents give a good character to the inhabitants. Cortlandt co.unty sepds 
one Member to the House of Assembly. 



DELAWARE COUNTY. 

Dela-ware Cormfy, 60 miles W. from Hudson, was erected in 1797, from Ulster 
and Otsego Counties. It is bounded northerly by Otsego County, easterly by Scho- 
hai'ie and Greene Counties, southerly by Ulster and Sullivan Counties, westerly by 
the state of Pennsylvania, by Broome County, and a small part of Chenango Coun- 
ty. Its greatest length 54 miles, greatest width 35 miles ; the area, 1425 square 
miles, or 912,000 acres :— Situated between 41" 51' and 42'' 01' N. latitude j 
25' W. and 1° 28' W. lomritude from New-York. 



TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 



Post- 
offices. 

P.T.- 
E.O. 
P.O. 



Towns. 
Colchester, 
Delhi, 
Pranklin, 
Hancock, 
Harpersfield, p.o 
Kortright, p.o 
Masonville, 
Meredith, 
Middletown, 
Jioxbury, 
Sidney, 
Stamford, 
Tompkins, 
Walton, 



P.O.- 
P.O.- 



P.C- 
P.O.- 



Popul. 
1810. 

-885- 
-2396- 
-1708- 
578- 
-1691- 
-2993- 

—726- 
-23 18-. 
1892- 
-1388- 
-1658- 
896- 
-1311- 



No. of 

Families. Remarks. 

-143 Beaver Dam, p.o. 91 m. S.W. froiTi Albany. 

-409 Delhi V., 70 m S. W. fr. Alb'y. 33 S.fr. Otsego V. 

-261 Franklin V., 76 m. fr. Alb'y. 25 from Otsego. 

—92 22 m. from Delhi, 60 AV. from Kingslun. 

-284 Harpersfield V., 55 m. S. W. from Albany. 

-500 62 m. S. W. from Alb'y. 12 N. W. from Delhi. 

erected in 1811 ; pop. &c., included with Sidney. 
-138 69 m. S. W. from Albany, 65 from Catskill. 
-399 73 m. S. W. from Albany, 45 from Kingston. 
-362 56 m. from A., 40 W. from Catskill, 22 fr. Delhi. 
-243 104 S. W. from Albany, 94 W. from Catskill. 
-284 Waterville, 60 m. S. W. fr. A., 50 W. fr. Catskill. 
-153 Deposit V., inc., 105 m. S.W. fr. A., 35 S.W. Delhi. 
-203 Waltpn, 98 m. from Albany, 45 S. from Otsego. 



10 19913 3471 
The county of Delaware has a very broken and diversified surface ; from the 
pugged lofty and barren mountain-side and summit, to the subsiding hill, and 
the hi^h and low plain, with the rich valley, and the low and fertile alluvion, 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 



The climate, also, partakes of all the varieties of temperature, that this diversity 
would indicate. But, the geographical position, althoug-h west of the most 
elevated tracts of the Catsberg mountains, secures to Delaware but a partial in- 
fluence from the inland current of S. W. winds, a common feature of the inland or 
western climate. This county is principally watered by the eastern sources of the 
Delawai-e, a large navigable river of Pennsylvania, on which stands Philadelphia. 
The E. branch of the Susquelianna, another large stream of Pennsylvania, forms a 
part of the N. eastern boundary ; as does the Delaware river a part of its S. west- 
ern boundary. The Cookquago branch of the Delaware, or the true Dda-ware, as it 
ought to be called, runs neai'ly central through Delaware Co., from N. E. to S W. ; 
the Papachtan branch, runs nearly parallel with this, a short distance to the S. of 
it. These streams with their numerous bi-anches, the largestof wliich are little 
Delawai'e and Beaver creeks, with Ouleout,* a small branch of the Susquehanna, 
spread plentifully over the whole country, and supply a vast profusion of line sites 
for mills. The quality of the soil, is as various as the surface. On the upland, 
there is a large proportion of a chocolate colored loam ; and the vallies and 
alluvial flats have a rich mold. The whole may be pronounced a pretty good coun- 
tiy for farming, well watered by small springs and rivulets. Delhi, the capital, is 
finely situated on tlie Delaware, or the Cookqi'.ago branch, at the mouth of the 
little Delaware creek. Few mineral productions have yet been noticed. This coun- 
try had some partial settlements anterior to the Revolution, broken up principally 
during the war; and in 1770, there were but three families within this territory, 
and these were 40 miles fi-om other neighbors. There are now 3,471 families in the 
county, 886 looms, which produce 201,372 yards cloth per ann., valued at §100,514; 
52,400 lbs. wool carded, 63,833 yards of household manufactures fulled and dressed. 
See Manufactures, page 49. There are also, 19,000 gallons whiskey manufactured 
in the county, and probably drank there ; for little of this article is ti-ansported 
from the soil and circle where it is produced, and none is exported to foreign 
countries. The taxable property, as valued on the Supervisors' books for 1810, is 
gl,705,325 ; and there are but 44 slaves. Delaware sends 2 Members to the House 
of Assembly. 



DUTCHESS COUNTY. 

Dutchess Connty, is of ancient date. This county and Ulster had two Delegates 
in the first Legislative Assembly of the Colony, which met at New- York, in 1691, 
It was also one of the covmties formed by the general organization acts of 1788, 
and 1801. It lies on the E. side of Hudson river, 65 miles N. from New-York ; and. 
is bounded N. by Columbia Co., E. by the state of Connecticut, S. by Westches 
ter Co., W. by the Hudson, or by Orange and Ulster Counties. Its lengtli on the 
Hudson is 49 miles; the medial width 22 miles; giving an area of 977 square miles 
or 625,280 acres : Situated between 41" 19' and 42" 04' N. latitude ; & 33' e! 
longitude from New-York. The population of Dutchess, is 52.6 persons to a square 
mile. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- Pop. Sen. Elec- 

Towns. Offices, isio, tors,i8io. Remarks, Villages, Local Names, &c. 

Amenia, p.o.— 3073 309 Part of Oblong,&Great 9 Partners, 24 m. NE.Pough. 

JJeekman, 3934 341 Oswego, The Clove, Apoquague, 13 m. E. Poughk. 

Carmel, 2020 153 26 m. S.W. fr. Poughkeepsie. part of the Highlands. 

Clinton, p.t.— 5494 437 Staatsberg p.c, 70 m. fr. A. ; Pleasant Valley V. 

Dover, p.c— 2146 146 21 m. E- fr. Poughkeepsie, 100 S. from Albany. 

3 16667 1386 



* In the orthography of t lie name of this Creek, I have followed the common pronunci- 
Kiion of people in its vicinity. 



74 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE.— Coittinced. 

Post- Pop. Sen. F.lec- 
Towns. Offices. 1810. tors. 1810. Kemarks, Villages, I,ocal Names, &c. 

Flshklll, P.O.2.— 6930 508 Fishkill,F. Land'g-, p.o. 100 m. fr. A. Wappinger's C. 

Frederick, 1811 98 20 m. S.E. fr. P., part of Highlands ; Iron Oi-e. 

Northeast, 3441 244 24 m. N.E. fr. P., part of Oblong- & L. 9 Partners. 

Patterson, p.o. — 1446 110 Patterson V., or Fredericksburg-h, 22 m. S.E. fr. P. 

Pawling, P.O. — 1756 138 Quaker Hill, 20 m. S.E. from Poug-hkeepsie. 

Philips",* P.O. — 3129 — ■ — 165 Anthony's Nose, Fort Constitution, the Highlands, 

PouGHKEEPSiEjP.o. — 4670' 441 Poughlceepsie V., inc. 470 h. & s. ; 85 m. S. fr. A. 

Rhinebeck, p.o.1-4486 412 Rhinebecfc Flats, Redhook, p.o. 47 m. fr. Albany. 

Southeast, p.o. — 1887 161 118 m. from Alban}% 31 S.E. from Poughkeepsie. 

Stanford, p.o. — 2335 100 20 m. N.E. from Poughkeepsie ; Cold Spring. 

Wasking'ton, p.o. — 2854 180 80 m. fr. A., Mechanic V., 20 h., & Friends' Board- 

■ [ing School. 

12 34,745 2,557— Total population 51,412. 

The County of Dutchess is one of the most opulent farming counties in the state. 
The taxable property, agreeable to the estimates in the Supervisors' books for 
1810, amounts to §8,490,181. In agriculture, no county exceeds this in the style 
of improvement, and none has a greater respectability of character, engaged in 
practical farming. The domestic manufactures of this county, may be seen in the 
general Table, page 50. In other parts of this work, some notices may be found 
ofthegeneral superiority of its agriculture and the comparative gross amountof pro- 
ducts. Dutchess took an early lead in the introduction of gypsum as a manure, 
with the most decided advantage. The S. W. angle of Dutchess Co., is occupied 
by the Highlands, noticed under Mountains, which see page 9 ; tiie ridges of 
which extend N. eastward across the wliole county, but with diminished altitude 
toward the north. The southern part is mountamous, the eastern hilly and with 
pretty lofty summits, while the remainder presents much broken surface. In the 
Town of Northeast, a granitic ridge rises to near 1000 feet; and this, with the 
Highland mountains, also of granite, form the only exceptions, or nearly so, to 
slate and limestone in the hills of this county. A shistic or calcareous gravel 
forms the principal soil of the feasible lands ; deep, warm, and durable. The hills, 
lire feasible to their summits, and afford the best of pasture ; much less steep and 
ruo-ged on the western than eastern declivities, a common feature of all the moun- 
tains and hills of the United States. Dutchess County enjoys the advantages of 
the fine navigable Hudson on its western border, and is sufficiently supplied with 
small mill-streams. A branch of the Housatonick, rises in Amenia. Wappingers' 
and Fishkill creeks, with their numerous small branches, spread over a large part 
of the county, and enter the Hudson Ijelow Poughkeepsie. Croton and Peekskill 
creeks, rise in the southern part, and run througli Westchester county, into the 
Hudson. These streams abound with fine sites for mills, and are of sufficient vo» 
lume for the num.eroiis water Avorks erected upon them. Besides these there are some 
others of a smaller size, though they also furnish several good mill seats. Ancram 
or Roeloff Jansen's creek, of Columbia Co., crosses into Dutchess for a short dist- 
ance. The whole of this county N. of the Highlands, is underlaid by slate-stone, 
of the kind denominated primitive by European Muieralogists. Limestone, howc- 
Ter, occupies considerable tracts ; among which are the primitive limestone, some 
of the fetid kind or swinstone, and some few blocks of the petrified, or that in 
which are found the impressions attributed to petrified muscle shells. The manu- 
facture of Lime at Barnegat, near Poughkeepsie, employs a great number of per- 
sons ; and Slate for roofing of houses is worked to great advantage, and to a large 
arnoimt. Iron-ore abounds in the Highland mountains. Some ores of copper, of 
zinck, tin, lead and silver have been found, but in small quantities. These n)etals, 
except the iron, are most abundant in limestone, or rather in a gi-ey stone compo- 
sed of lime, slate and flint, so intimately combined as to deceive the eye of theo- 
retic Mineralogists, who have usually little regai-d to aggi-egation. The granite 

* The name of this Totvn, like mavy others in this county, and in other parts of the 
State, is derived from the name of some person ; and there is no necessity for adding 
ioim to it. If there be, it should also be added to Clinton, Frederick, Fatter so7i, Puvj- 
ling, and Washington, 



GENERAL TIEW OF COUNTIES. 75 

of this region, is of the kind called primitive, and but few blocks of the calcare- 
ous kind are to be found in Dutchess county. The only samples that I have seen, 
are in the northern part of the Oblong, in the town of Northeast. It will be found 
in the course of ages, that the pasturage of the hills in this county, furnish butter 
and cheese of a peculiar flavor and superior excellence. And the climate, attem- 
pered by Atlantic breezes and sea air, sensibly modified b)' currents of air from 
the W., N.W. and S. E., is peculiarly variable, and friendly to a great varietj^ of 
the products of agriculture. There are some small mineral springs of little celeb- 
rity; and a small pond that emits bubbles of inflamable air, is duly magnified in 
importance by Correspondents. As is usual in calcareous tracts, there are some 
large spring's of clear cold water, of sufficient volume to turn a mill ; and natural 
caverns are also found, some of which are of great extent, another common feature 
of limestone countries. 

In addition to the manufactures enumerated under the general summary,* there 
are 4 spinning mills for wool, or woollen factories, with 468 spindles and iO looms, 
which employ 26 workmen, and produce 10,500 yards woollen cloth annually ; — 
1 of those is in Poughkeepsie, 1 in Clinton, 1 in Amcnia, and 1 in Northeast. The 
household manufactures of cloth, amount to 345,666 yards. 120 grain mills, and 
7 bloomeries, omitted hi the general Table. There are 83,853 sheep, 67 of which 
are merinoes, and 5453 of mixed blood ; 51,650 neat cattle, and 14,341 horses, 
Poughkeepsie, the capital of this county is pleasantl}^ situated on the Hudson, 85 
miles from Albany, and 75 N. from the city of New- York. It is an incorporated 
Village, or a Boroug-h, containing 470 houses, stores, &.c. ; 4 churches, and the 
county buildings, and is a place of considerable trade. In 1731, Dutchess county 
contained but 1727 persons; in 1771, 22,404; in 1786, 32,636; in 1790, 45,266; in 
1800,47,775; in 1810, 51,412. Dutchess sends 6 Members to the House of As- 
sembly. 

* See page 50. 

ESSEX COUNTY. 

Essex County, on the western shore of Lake Champlain, was erected from Clin- 
ton County, March 1, 1799. It is about 43 miles long N. and S., by 41 medial 
width, being nearly in a square form : bounded N. by Clinton and Fr.udclin Coun- 
ties; E. by Lake Champlain, or the state of Vermont; S. by Washington County; 
W. .,by Montgomery and Franklin Counties. The area, 1,763 square miles, or 
1,128,320 acres, exclusive of the M'aters of Lake Champlain ; situated between 
43" 44' & 44" 34' N. latitude; 47' E. & 18' AV. longitude from New- York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE, CENSUS, &c. of 1810. 

When Post Popula- Taxable pro- Sen. 
Towns. Erected. Offices, tion. peny isio. Electors. Reiimrks. 

Chesterfield, 1802— p.o. 631-S44,418 38 Adgate's Falls. 

Crownpoint, 1799— p. o.— 1082 55,474 36 Crownpoint Fort, 123m. N. fr. A. 

Elizabethtown,1801— P.O.— 1362— 108,450 124 N.W. Bay, P. Valley, 130 fr. A. 

Essex, 1805— P.O.— 1186— 122,734 69 Essex, 30 h., Brookfield, p.o. 

Jay. 1801— P.O.— 1164 52,78-1 66 150 miles from Albany. 

Keene, 1808 642 64,222 37 Elba Iron Works, 142 m. from A. 

Lewis, 1805 537 54,323 80 140 m. fr. A. ; MoimtDiscoveiy. 

Moriah, 1808 584 38,840 21 Rogers' ore bed, 150 m. fr. A. 

Scroon, 1804— p.t.1— 689 65,5-3,7 89 Crown-point p.o., Dominick. 

Ticonderoga, 1804 985 63,779 35 Fort Ticonderoga, Mt. Defiance. 

Wdlsborough, 1799— p.o. 663 74,241 57 Block House, Schuyler's Island- 

8 9525 744,802 652. 
In this county, may be reckoned the height of land in this state. Here r=se 
the principal northern sources of the Hudson ; and it furnishes some waters of the 
Saranack ot Lake Champlain, and of Racket river, a water of the St. Luv.'rence. 
It IS a mountamous country, rich in ores of iron, with many indications of other 
valuable metals. The rivers and streams abound with rapids and falls, and the 
best of sites for hydraulic works. Along the lake, is a pretty extensive tract of 
flat, clay land. The Saranack river, rises in the N. W. extremity, from some 
€onsiderable lakes, and passes into FrwaWin and Clinton counties. The Sable or 



76 GAZETl^ER OF NEW- YORK. 

Sandy river, forms a part of its northern boundary. The Bouquet, rises near the 
centre, and runs N. E. ward into Lake Champlain. It is only boatable two miles, 
having falls, and mills erected at that distance. Scroon river, the main source of 
the N. E. branch of the Hudson, rises in Moriah, and runs into Scroo7i lake, which 
see. The S. W. part is watered by numerous streams which fall into the N. W. 
branch, or more properly, which form here the Hudson river. There are several 
considerable ponds or lakes, the prir^cipal of which are in Jay, Keene, and Scroon ; 
and some remai-kable mountains. Adgate's Falls, in Chesterfield, are a rare curio- 
sity. Aboundirg in timber, wood, iron-ore, and sites for hydraulic works, this 
county is very eligible for manutactories of iron; and intercourse is much facilita- 
ted by the navigation of Lake Champlain. Few of the inhabitants are rich ; and 
they are mostly employed in agriculture. There are 15 bloomeries for making bar 
iron, 8 distilleries of grain, several anchor shops, trip-hammers, and other small 
water works, besides the common grain and saw-mills. In speaking of this region, 
we must not forget that much historic grmind is here : for it has often been the 
theatre of war, and contains the ruins of two most important fortresses, Ticonde- 
roga and Crown-Point, frequently mentioned in American History. Some noti- 
ces of these, will be found in the Topographical Descriptions, which see. Es- 
sex elects one Member to the House of Assembly. The household manufactures of 
this county, are considerable and increasing ; a circumstance more honorable to 
the character, and of greater national importance, than the multiplication of large 
manufacturing establishments. See general Table, page 50. 



FRANKLIN COUNTY. 

Franklin County, was erected from Clinton Co., in 1808. It is bounded N. by 
Canada, or Lat. 45° N., E. by Clinton, and a small angle of Essex County, S. by Es- 
sex and' a small part of Montgomery County, W. by St. Lawrence Co. and a small 
angle on the St. Lawrence river. The W. line is 60 miles in length ; the greatest 
width 31 miles. The area, 1506 square miles, or 963,840 acres ; situated between 
44» 05 ' and 45" N. Latitude ; 06' E. and 44' W. Longitude from New- York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Towns. P. Offices. Pop. 1810. Remarks. 

Cliataugay,* p.o. 625 210 miles N. from Albany. 

Constable, p.t. 916 French Mills, p.o., 135 m. from Albany ; St. Regis. 

Dickinson', 2 411 Moira, ?.o. ; Bangor, p.o., established in 1811. 

EzRAVii-LE, P.T. 767 Malone, p.o., 220 miles from Albany, on travelling route. 

5 2719 
The centre of Franklin County, lies 142 miles nearly N. from Albany ; 57 a little 
S. of E. from Ogdensburgh, and 42 nearly W. from Plattsburgh, measured in right 
line. The high northern latitude sufficiently indicates the rigors of the climate. — 
In the south-western part, are some lofty ridges of the Peru mountains, but of all 
the rest, a large portion is rather level than hilly. The small streams are very nu- 
merous,' and there are a number of small lakes, or ponds. Salmon creek runs 
northward into the province of Canada, entering the St. Lawrence a kw miles N. 
of the territorial line. The St. Regis creek, and the Racket river, receive their 
principal sources from Franklin County. The Chataugay, runs N. into Canada ; and 
Franklin affords some waters to Chazy and Saranack creeks, of L. Champlain.— 
The soil and surface are capable of rendering it a pretty good farming countr)^ but 
at present the population is too inconsiderable for much detail of products or im- 
provements. There are mines of iron-ore, and indications of other metals. It can 
hardly be necessary to say, that this county received its name from the illustrious 
Franklin — and nothing was meant by attacliing it to the least valuable county of 
this state, though the Doctor, w^ho always saw a meaning in every thing, might be 
displeased with it, should he appear here in his butt of wine. Franklin, with Clin- 
ton County, send one Member to the House of Assembly. 

* Pronounced S/iatagee. 



CtEnfrAl view of counties. 77 

GENESEE COUNTY. 

Genesee Coulity, was erected in 1802, from Ontario County, and comprised at that 
time ihe whole territory W. of the Genesee river ; or the present counties <,f Ciene- 
sce, Niag-ara, Chatauqua, Cataraug-us, and 5-6ths of Allegany County. By those 
subdivisions, Genesee is now bounded N. by Lake Ontario or the British posses- 
sions in Can.,da, E. by Ontario County, S. by Alieg'any and a small angle on Cata- 
raiigus County, W. by Niagara County. The W. line is 55 miles in length ; great- 
est width, 41 "miles ; lcastj'29. The area, exclusive of L. Ontario, is 1743 square 
miles, or 1,115,520 acres : Situated between 42'^ 30', and 43° 22' N. Latitude ; 3* 
38 ' W., and 4'^ 2>5 ' "\V. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- Pop. Sen. Klec- 

Towns. Offices. 1810. toi-s 1810. Remarks. 

Attica, Erected in 1811 ; population inc. with Sheldon. 

Batavia, P.O. 3645 104 Batavia village, 40 h., the coimty buildings, &c. 

Caledonia, p.o. 2355 55 Le Roy V., 28 li. !k s., 246 m. from Alb. Big Spring. 

Gates,* 462 18 Charlotte V., 19 h. &. s., 241 miles from Albany. 

Leicester, 927 14 Mount Morris, 240 miles from Albany. 

Murray, 1166 — — 17 The tract called the Triangle, 250 m. from All?. 

Parmaj 494 28 Braddock's Bay, on L. Ontario, 246 m. from Alb. 

Jliga, 86J 42 West Pultenev'Socletv, and E. Pulteney Society. 

Sheldon, po, 1415 235 Taxable property, §221,850. 

"Warsaw, p.o. 1317 201 Taxable property, §80,224. 

4 12644 714 

The County of Genesee had none, or but very few white inhabitants jirior to 
1801, Vv'hen its settlement may be said to have commenced.. Of the present popu- 
lation, 12,644, it is supposed that about half that number have migrated to this 
county within the last three years. It may astonish foreign readers that a county 
so recently a wilderness, contains, at so short a period, such a population ; the taxa- 
!>le property is valued on the Supervisors' books for 1810, at ^1,407,137. And I am 
assured by a well informed Correspondent, a member of the Board of Assessment, 
that the rate of valuation is less than one half the real and current value of the 
property, which he estimates at g3,000,00U. The County of Genesee has but little 
of waste, and very little of poor land. The surface is generally level, except where 
traversed by the terraces or ledges that formed the ancient southern limits of Lake 
Ontario. 

The great extCnt and superior richness and fertility of the alluvial flats of the 
Genesee river, have widely extended their fame ; and it is thought by many that 
no county in the state is capable of sustaining a greater population than Genesee, 
from its own products. On the E., it is watered by Genesee river, which receives 
several small creeks, tlie largest of Avhich is Allen's creek ; on the N., it is washed 
by L. Ontario, which also receives some creeks, the largest being Ancocheeca, and 
Oak-Orchard creeks, with some smaller that fall into Braddock's Bay in this coun- 
ty. The Tonnewanda of Niagara river, rises in the interior of Genesee county, as 
'loes Sulphur Spring' creek, a principal branch ; ar.d it sends from the W. part, some 
waters to Buflalo creek, and from the S. AV. corner, some to Cataraugus creek, be- 
s^ides furnishing the sources of Ellicott's creek. Batavia, the capital, stands on the 
Toimewanda, u beautiful stream, where it turns short to the west. 

Of the mineralogy and geology of this county, little else is known but that it pro- 
duces lime-stone in abundance, slate and flint. The southern terrace terminates in 
a ledge of flint on the N. ; and the elevated plains of this tract afford the blue flint 
used for muskets, in profuse abundance. In the year 1797, 1 gathered some hnc 
samples of this, and a rich small one of a most beautiful carnelion, near the deep 
spring. Inm pyrites, also, in small grains are plenty, occasionally imbedded witli 
small pebbles of a fine dust resembling that from the sapphire and ruby. There 
ai-e several Salt Spring's, which yield near 2000 bushels of salt from two salt works. 



* Or JVorthampton, as sometimes called. To settle this dijicvllt/, Lawi/ers may cow- 
.ult the 5th vofitmc of the Laiva, p. 311. 

U 



78 GAZETTEER OE NEWYORK. 

The domestic manufactures of this county are very respectable. 142,7'29 yards o 
cloth made, and 7000 fulled. Thei-e are 14 grain-mills, 20 saw-mills, and 68 pot- 
ash works, which produce 187 tons pot-ash annually. There are 11,695 neat cattle, 
11,544 sheep, and 1910 horses. See Manufactcres, page 49. This county is well 
supplied with sites for mills, and derives already very considerable advantages 
from the navigation of L. Ontario. It is well supplied with roads and centrally 
embraces the grand avenue from Albany to Niagara. Genesee sends 1 Member to 
the House of Assembly. 



GREENE COUNTY. 

Greene County, on the W. side of the Hudson, is about 130 miles N. from New- 
York. It was erected from Albany County, by the general organization act of 1801 ; 
and is bounded northerly by Schoharie and Albany Counties, E. by the Hudson, or 
by Columbia Co., S. by Ulster Co., W. by Delaware County. The form is very ir- 
regular, and the area may be 508 square miles, or 325,120 acres : Situated between 
42" 03', and 42^ 25' N. Latitude ; 15' E., and 34' W. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- Pop. Sen. Elec- 
Towns. Offices. 1810. tors,1810. Remarks, Villages, &c. 

Cairo, r.o. 2u55— 162 C<nro V., formerly Shinglckill, 11 m. N.W. fr. Athens 

CATSKitt, P.O. 1.— 4245 — 359 Co^sHZZ V., inc., 200h. &.s ; Athens V., inc. 151 h. p.o. 
Cbxuckie, P.O. — 4U57 — 376 Coxackie V., &Coxackie Landing, 22 m. fr. Albany. 

Durh.-im, p. o. 2944—288 Durham V., 30 ni. S. W. fr. Alb. Oak-Hill V., 29 fr. A. 

Greenevllle, r.o. 2300—2:4 freehold, 14.N. W. from Athens, 27 S. W. fr. Alb. 

New-Baltimore, erected in 1811 fr. Coxackie. New-B. V. & L. 18 fr. A. 

Windham, p.o. 3965 — 267 Batavia V., and Greenland. Mountains, &c. see p. 9- 

7 19566 1676 

The County of Greene, traversed by the Catsbergs, or Catskill mountains,* pre- 
sents a very broken surface, and contains the most elevated part of this lofty range. 
Entering Greene at the S. E. angle, from Ulster county, these hills rise to an alti- 
tude of 2 to 3000 feet at the distance of 8 miles from the Hudson, holding their 
northerly course about 10 miles ; then curving westward in a kind of semicircle, 
stretch across the whole county. At the S. angle of Schoharie Co., they range 
nearly west, and spread there, on divergent courses, as noticed under Mountains, 
vhich see, p. 9. It may be remarked in general, that these mountains present a 
grand rampart of 2000 to 2300 feet altitude above the adjacent plains, quite across 
Grceric County ; and some summits of 3U00 to 3500 to 3655 feet above the level of 
the Hudson, and from 10 to 30 miles distant from that river. To the W. of these, 
tlie country is either mountainous or hilly to a great distance ; but eastward, these 
summits command a fine view of the whole valley of the Hudson, for a great extent : 
— of Columbia, some part of Dutchess Co. ; and on the N. and E., it embraces Albany, 
Saratoga, Hensselaer and Washington counties. Nor is the view bounded on 
the E. and N. E. but by the hills or mountains of Connecticut, Massachusetts 
and Vermont. 

The soil of Greene County is not less various than the surface is diversified ; and 
though so large a portion is mountainous and hilly, yet as much of this presents a 
pretty good soil for pasturage or for grain, the whole county affords a larger pro- 
portion of arable land than could have been supposed. The vallies, too, are in some 
parts extensive and rich. Its agricultural products may be made in general to ex- 
cel in excellence, from the local position and temperatures of the country. The 
taxable property, as estimated on the Supervisors' books for 1810, amounted to 
S2,130,622. Its Manufactures, are shewn in the general Table, which see, page 
50. The population of this county, will probably increase more rapidly tlian it has, 
from the growth of its trading towns on the Hudson. Catskill, the capital, has con- 
siderable trade already ; a)id this place or Athens, opposite Hudson, must probably 
experience a rapid growth, as the market town for an extensive back-counlry. To 
this place, which is within 4 miles of the head of ship-navigation, the Hudson is 
navigable for an American frigate ; and here is a bold shore, with convenient dock- 

* See Mountains, p. 9. 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 79 

ing ground. At some place in this vicinity, and on the Avest side of the river, fu- 
ture ages will probably find the third if not tlie second city on the Hudson, in 
wealth, population, and commercial importance. The principal small streams on 
the E. of the Catsbergs, are the Catskill or Catscreek, which receives some 
waters from Albany and Schoharie counties, and runs S. E. into the Hudson near 
Catskill Village. This is a good mill stream, and receives many small branch- 
es, one of the largest of which is Katerskill, or He-cats'-craek, which it receives 
from a short turn in Ulster County. The Haanekraai-kill, or Cock-cro wing-creek, 
crosses the N.E. angle, from Albany County, and there are some other small streams 
that fall into the Hudson. The Schoharie creek, a fine stream of the Mohawk, rises 
near the southern extremity of Greene County, on the W. of the Catsbergs, and, 
with its small branches which water every part, run N. W. into Schoharie County. 
It may usefully anuise for a moment, to observe the etymologies of some of tlie 
above names. The Helderberg, or Clear Mountain, supplies the extreme sources 
of Catskill, or Catscreek ; the Catsberg, or Catsmountain, supplies other streams 
which unite with it, and, passing the Village of Catskill, (tlie same name as that 
usually applied to the creek, and to the moimtain,) falls into the Hudson near that 
Village, after having received Katerskill, or He-Cats'-Creek. Haanekraai-kill, or 
Cock-ci owing-creek, is named above ; and Schoharie, is derived from an Indian 
word signifying flood-wood ; as is Coxackie, from another Indian word, signifying 
the hootitig-of-owls. The abundance of wild animals of the cat species, in the 
itiountains of this counti-y, was marked alike by the aboriginals and the earlj- white 
inhabitants, who applied appropriate names. For tradition has it as a fact that the 
Indian name for the Catsbergs, or Catskill mountains, expressed the same meaning 
as that given by the early Dutch inhabitants. — -Greene County sends 2 Mem- 
bers to the House of Assembly. 

HERKIMER COUNTY. 

Herkimer County, was erected from Montgomery Co., in 1791, and was then very 
extensive ; but by successive sub-divisions from which were erected other counties, 
it is now restricted to a much smaller area. Its present form, is an irregular oblong, 
embr.acing the Moliawk, which crosses the southern part. The geographical cen- 
tre, lies about 85 miles on a right line N. VV. from Albany. It is bounded N. by St. 
Lawrence Co.,E. by Montgomery Co., and a small angle of Otsego Co., S. by Olseg'o 
Co., W. by Oneida and Lewis Counties : greatest length, N. and S. 85 miles ; great- 
est width, 16 miles. The area is 11'J6 square miles, or 707,840 acres. Situated be- 
tween 42" 49/, and 44" 07' N. latitude ; 44' W., and 1= 15 ' W. longitude from New- 
Tork. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- No. of Popul. Sen. 
Towns. Offices. Famijies. ibio. Electors. Villages, Remarks, &c. 

Fairfield, p.o. 412—2705—284 Fairfield Acad.,76 ni. fr. Alb., 10 N. E. fr. Her. 

Frankfort, 220—1304—112 S. side Mohawk, 9 m. fr. Her., 87 from Alb'y. 

GermanFlats, P.O. 371—2228-207 S. s.M., German Flats,V., Canal,8cc.75m. fr.A. 

Kerkimer, P.0.1.-415— 2743—282 HerkimerY., inc. 95h.8cs. 78 m fr. A.; L.F'ls. p.o. 

Litchfield, p.o. 414—2533—319 S. side Moh., 10 m. from Herk , 88 from Alb. 

Newport, p.o. 270-1605— 86 Bowcn's Settlement, 95m. N. Westerly fr. Alb. 

Norway, 235—1466—142 20 m. N.from Herkimer, 90 N. Westerly fr. Alb. 

Russia, P.O. 238—1381—112 26 m. N. from Herkimer, 100 N. W. fr. Albany. 

Schuyler, 324—2107—124 10 m. N. W. from Herkimer, S8 from Albany. 

Warren, p.o. — 664 — 3974 — 444 S. s. of Mo. 70 m. from Albany, 9 m. S. fr. Her. 

8- 3563 22,046 2112 

The County of Herkimer has a large proportion of hilly land, and as great a di- 
versity of soil as any county in the state. The hills that border the Mohawk, as- 
pire with considerable assurance to the name of mountains. The southern part fur- 
nishes some small sources of the Susquehanna, a circumstance that indicates a lofty 
altitude ; and the tract of country, called the Royal Grants, which lies N. of the 
Mohawk, is elevated, broken by high hills, and has a mountain temperatm-e. See 
Mountains, page 9. The northern part is less elevated and mors level; hut ey- 



80 GAZETTEER OF ^EW-YORK. 

tensive swamps and marshes, with the vast forests of evergreens, pine, spruce, hem- 
lock and fir, characterize its mountain temperature, and a cold, sterile soil. But, 
when I penetrated the northern wilds of this county, while collectint; the materials 
for this work, I may have judged too hastily, and perhaps unfuvorahly, though of 
the mountain character, aiid its influence on the climate, I cannot be mistaken. In 
a country wholly wild, however zealously bent on precise examination, the traveller, 
in time, ceases to examine mole-hills, till he have found a breakfast. And in practice, 
there is a wide difference between the pljilosophy of knowledge, while snugly seated 
in a stage-coach, or perambulating vast forests, remote from the habitations of man. 
Herkimer county furnishes some small streams of the Oswegatchie, several considera- 
ble branches of Black river, and the main source also of that river. W. Canada creek 
rises in this county and in Montgomery, runs at first W., then curves about to the S. 
E., after forming part of the western boundary, and holds a southerly course to the 
Mohawk, near the village or borough of Hcrkiviev, the capital of tlie county. The Mo- 
hawk crosses the southern part of this county, and some small waters of the Susque- 
hanna rise near the southern extremity. No di.qtrict of equal area, contains a greater 
diversity of soil. INIucli of the hilly ground aflbrds a good f;oil, some of sandy, argil- 
laceous, and loamy — free from stone in some parts, in others so stony as almost to 
exclude soil. The alluvial flats, are extensive and very rich along the Mohawk ; 
and there is considerable of alluvion along the creeks. The rocks are calcareous 
g'ranite, some few blocks of the European kind, lime-stone, slate-stone, and fragile 
shistus,— the common flint, masses of calcareous sand-stone or free-stone, and so in- 
termixed and disposed, as to mock all the closet speculations of general theory. — 
The agriculture of all the southern part is productive, and affords a great amount 
of surplus products. Tiie taxable property, as estimated on the Supervisors' books 
in 181U, amounts to ^1,904^123. In addition to the vicv/ of its manufactures in the 
general Table, page 50, there are 33 grain, and 54 fiaw-mills, a steel-yaid manufacto- 
ry, and a cotton maimfactory. The whole value of hou.;ehold manufactures, in 
Woollen, linnen, and cotton or mixed cloths for common clothing, exceeds 200,000 
dollars. There are 44,450 sheep in the comity, 1500 of v/hich are of mixed blood 
v/ith the Merino. In 1800, the population wa"s 14,503 ; the gain, therefore, in ten 
years, is 7,543. Herkimer County sends 3 Members to the House of Assembly. 

JEFFERSON COUNTY. 

Jefferson Cound/, situated at the eastern extremity of Lake Ontario, was erect- 
ed from Oneida Co., INIarch 28, 1805, and named in honor of his Excellency Thomas 
Jefierson. It is bounded on the N.E. by St Lawrence County ; eastwardly by Lewis 
Co.; S. by Oneida Co.; W. and N. W. on Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence, or 
the British possessions in Canada : being about 30 miles on each. The whole area 
mav be about 600,000 acres. Situated between 43'" 35' and 44 ** 25' N. Latitude [ 
1" 26' W. and 2'' 36' W. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- Pop. Sen. F.lec- 
Towns. Offices, isio. tors, 1810. Villages, compi^ct Settlements, Remarks, &c. 

Adams, P.O.— 1386 169 Smith Vil!e,or Smith's Mills, 160 m. N. W. fr. Alb. 

Antwerp,* 180 m. from Albany. 

Brownville, p.o.-|-_1C60 86 Brownville, 28 houses, stores, &c., 178 m. fr. Alb. 

Champion, p.o. — 1481 194 A small vilhige at hc:id of long falls, several mills,. 

Elli.';burgh, 1725 211 Ellisburgh, \5 houses, &c. [&c. 162 m. fr. A. 

Henderson, r.o. — 1138 121 Hender.son B:(y and Harbor, withar.o. 176 m.fr. A. 

Hounsficld, 1 943 123 Sackett's Harbor, r.c. 176 m fr. Alb'y; 40 families. 

Le Ray, p.o.— 1149 177 Quaker Settlement, 171 m. from Albany. 

Lorraine, t.o. 812 92 159 miles from Albany. 

Rodman, 1277 223 165 m. N. W. from Alb;uiy. Iron Ore. 

Rutland, P.O.— 1738 288 170 m. from Albany* First settled in 1809. 

Y/ATJiUTowif, r.o.— 1841 308 WutertorinY., 50h, 174 ih. f. Albany; Arsenal,Court- 

- [House, Stc. 

9 15136 2122 



^Population included -iuiih Le livy. j Chaumont and l^ort Putnam p.o. discontinued. 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 81 

This county is penetrated by Black i-iver, which It receives from Lewis Co., hold- 
ing- a western course to Lake Ontario. The northern part is watered by Indian river, 
and the western and S. western parts by Stony and Sandy creeks. At the E. end of 
L. Ontario, some large Bays extend far into the country, forming- many good and se- 
cure harbors, and important facilities for trade and navigation. I[tingrii bay, opens 
eastward from the broad lake, and is so called from the very simple fact, that boi;t» 
men found it a hungry harbor to ride in, when resting here from distress of weather ; 
Chanmont bay, spreads from this to the northward, and forms spacious and good 
harbors ; Black river bay, less extensive, stretches off eastward, and receives Black 
river a])out 6 miles from the head of Hungry bay ; and Henderson bay, is also an 
arm extending S. into tlie town of Henderson. This is sometimes called Na- 
ples bay, though improperly. Sackett's Harbor, is on the S. side of Black rivei- 
bay, in the town of Hounsfield. Thei-e are 9 post-offices. Le Rav, Antwerp, 
and Brownville, comprise the whole territory N. of Black river ; so that the 
principal population is on the S. side of that river. AgTeeable to tlie Census 
of 181u, there are in this county, 660 looms ; 16 tanneries, IG distilleries, i.: 
clothieries, 5 carding maclnnes, 2 breweries, and there are 7 or 8 large ashe- 
ries, which produce large quantities of pot and pearl ashes, and bring- much money 
into tlie country. The mills, &c., are noticed under the Towns. About 160,500 
yards of cloth are annually produced from household industry, a far preferable ba- 
sis of independence and weal ili, to extensive manufactories, however popular at this 
time. The automaton habits, and the immoral tendencies of these establishments, 
will be better understood in this country 50 years lience. The soil, is generally a 
warm and first rate medium, fit for the cultivation of grain or grass, witi\ very lil- 
lle waste land, except along the lake, where are some extensive sedgy marshes. — 
There arc no mountains, and but very little hilly l;,nd. The importance of its geo- 
g-raphical position, wiil be seen by inspection of the map. The Topographical de- 
tails, are minute and ample, thanks to the liberality and intelligence of my Cor- 
respondents. The increase of Senatorial Electors, may be taken as a pretty 
correct indication of progressive population and wealth. In 1807, there were 
835 Sen. Electors ; in 1810, 2,122 ! Ten jears before, this whole territory did 
jaot contain 20 fi'echolders. The centre of this County is about 140 miles in a di- 
rect line, N. W from Albany ; 70 W. of N. ii-om Utica, and 46 N. E. from Oswego- 
It .scuds 2 Members to the House of Assemblv. 



KINGS COUNTY. 

ITings ConiHy, comprises a very small area of the W. end of Long-Island, imme ■ 
diately opposite the city of New- York. It is bounded on the N. by the East river 
E. by Jamaica bay and Queens County, S. by thi Atlantic, W. by the bay of New- 
York, and the communication of the Hudson with the Atlantic ocean." The area 
may be about 81 1-2 square miles, or 52.160 acres Situated bctv/ecn 40" 33' aud 
40" 44' N. Latitude ; 02' W. and 09' E. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. 

Post- Pop. Sen. El<^- 

Towns. Oflices. 1810. tors 181o. Remaiks. 

Brooklyn, r.o.— 44U2 281 Brooklyn V., inc. 400 h.; 161 m. fr. Alb.— Bedford, &c. 

Bushwick, 798 79 Williamshurgh ; 3 miles from New-York. 

Flatbush, 1159 ^3 FlaibushY.,\()Q\\. Prospect Hill. Erasmus Hall. 

Flatlands, 517 55 Flatlands V., 20 houses, 6 3-4 S. by E. from N. York. 

Cravcsend, 520 76 Gravesend V., 20 h. 9 l-2m.fr. N. York. Grav. beach. 

Utrecht, 907 89 Utrecht V., 40 h. lu m. from New- York. Bath beach. 

1 8303 663 

The Cotmty of Kings, is of ancient date. In the first Colonial Assembly, April, 
1691, which met at New-York, this county had 2 Delegates. About 1665, when 
the Duks of York's laws were in force, the whole district of Long-Island was called 
Yorkshire, and distributed into 3 ridings, like the county of York in England. 
These were divisions of territory for the convenience of courts, implied m the 
Sa.X(m word trythings, long since called ridings. In that aivision, Ivings Co., was 
called the West Riding ; Qufiens and Siiftblk, the. N»rth aad Ea.->t Ridings, 1\\ 



82 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



1731, the population of King's County was 2150. The taxable property, as valued 
on the Supervisors' books for 1811, amounts to §2,456,061 ; and it will be recollect- 
ed that the whole ai-ea of this county does not equal that of a township of 10 miles 
square. The soil is of various qualities, thoiig'h in general very good, and highly 
cultivated. It is peculiarly well adapted for gardening, light, warm, and fertile 
of vegetable products for the daily markets of New- York, yielding an immense 
portion of the supplies for those markets. Barren, Coney, and one or two other 
small islands belong to this county. Flatbunh, the capital, is a very pleasant village. 
The well known Wallaboght, the scene of immense individual suffering and 
wanton tyranny, during tlie revolutionary war, is in this county ; and which con- 
tains other ground of historic celebrity, in the annals of that eventful period of our 
history. Some of the town records in this county, embrace a period of almost two 
centuries ; a rare instance in this state of the antiquity of a series of precise histo- 
ric record. The inhabitants are entitled to a high character for moral and do- 
mestic worth ; a character too, well merited in general by the whole population 
of Long-Island. The Manufactures of this county, are shewn in the General Table, 
page 50. Kings County sends 1 Member to the House of Assembly. 

LEWIS COUNTY. 

Leivis Comitri, was erected from Oneida County, March 28, 1805, and named ii> 
honor of his Excellency Morgan Lewis. It is bounded N. Easterly on St. Law- 
rence Co. ; E. by Herkimer Co. ; southerly by Oneida Co. ; westerly by Oneida and 
Jefferson Coimt'ies. Its greatest length, N. and S., 54 miles ; greatest width, 33. 
The medial length may be about 36 ; medial width, 28 ; — giving an area of about 
1008 square miles, or 645,120 acres. Situated between 43° 24' and 44° 14' N. Lati- 
tude ; 48 ' W. and 1" 52 ' W Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. CENSUS, &c. 1810. 

Pnpula- Sen. Elec- 
Townis. P. Offices. tion. tors. Remarks- 
Denmark, P.O. — 1242 161 Copenhagen, 25 dvvellnigs, mills, &c. 160 m. fr. A- 

llarrisbuigh, 572 74 20 m. fr.Brownville ; and 65, about N. fr. Rome. 

Leyden, " p.o. 792 104 oli miles from Utica, 120 from Albany. [demy. 

Lowville, r.o. — 1643 213 Lowville, a pleasant, busy village of 45 h. an aca- 

Martiitsb-drgh, P.O. 889 115 Martinsburgh, 30 dwellings and a church, the Co. 

Pinckney, 439 57 175 m. fr. Alb. [buildings, &c. 144 m. fr. Alb. 

Turin, p.o. — 856 111 High Falls of Black river, 70 feet. 136 from Alb. 

5 6433 835 
This County is pretty equally divided by the Black river, which runs northerly 
into Jefferson" County. From the east, it receives Beaver and Moose creeks in this 
count}-, and several other small streams that rise in the wild northern regions of 
Herkimer County ; and Deer creek, with some other small streams water the wes- 
tern part and fall into Black river. In the northern part, some branches of Indian 
and Oswegatchie rivers spread over the country . and Fish creek, of Wood creek, of 
the Oneida lake, rises in the S. western part ; as does also Salmon river, which runs 
into L. Ontario. Black river runs about 45 miles in this county, (34 on a right line,) 
is deep and sluggish from the head of the Long falls in Champion, to the high falls 
near the southeni extremity of the county ; boatable the whole distance, 45 miles, 
and is from 12 to 18 rods wide. And should any traveller wish to explore this 
river, I must take the liberty to caution him not to attempt it with a drunken In- 
dian in a bark canoe. Little' is known of that part of this county lying E. of Black 
river ; but that on the W., where the settlements arc, may be pronounced a good 
tract of country ; some hilly, but the soil is deep, warm, and generally fertile. — 
Along the river, the alluvial flats are extensive and ricli. This country has popu- 
lated very rapidly ; and the state of the roads. Indicate the just views which tlie 
early settlers had' of their importance in promoting tlic prosperity of Ihe country. 
"I'he Marshals' return gives only the aggregate of population I'oi- tlie county ;- to 
apportion this, I have assumed the numbers of Senatorial Electors in the respective 
towns, as comparative data ; and on these have assigned the amount of population 
in each to'.vn. Co-operati'ng with tlie entcrprizc of the iahiibitants, the state has 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 83 



granted some pretty liberal appropriations of money for opening roads in this part 
of the state; and no country equally new, is better furnished with g-ood leading' 
roads between distant parts. Mariinsbiirgh, the shire town, has a pleasant village 
on an eminence, where are the county buildings, on the great state-road from Onei- 
da to Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. From the returns of the Census of 1810, 
it appears there are about 80,000 yards of cloth produced from family industry ; 
and really in no country have I seen more of sober and industrious perseverance- 
Lewis County lies a little W. of N. from Utica, distant 60 miles ; and about 155 
N. \V. from Albany. It sends one Member to th« House of Assembly. 

MADISON COUNTY. 

Madison County, was erected March 21, 1806, from Chenango Co., and named in 
honor of James Mi^dison, President of the United States. It is bounded N. and 
N. earterly by Oneida Lake and County ; E. by about 10 miles of Otsego Co. ; S. 
by Chenango Co. ; W. by about 4 miles on Cortlandt Co., and 27 on Onondaga 
County. The area is 616 square miles, or 394,240 acres. Situated between 42* 
43' and 43" 12' N. Latitude ; 1'^' 16 W. and 2" 02' W. Longitude from New-York. 
TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTIC^VL TABLE: Census 8c Assessment of 1810. 

P. Of- Dist.fr. H. of Popu- Tax. Sen. 

Towns. fices. Alba. Fajn. lation. Slaves. Property. Eiec. Remarks. 

Biookfield, r.o.— -luO 631 4u24— 2— §223,114— 317 [69 h. 1 m. H. 

Cazen^ovia, P.O. 130 513 3151—7 164,176—271 Cazenovia F., 500 Inh. j 

De Huyter, p.o. 134 253 1503—0 110,uOO— 213 34 miles, from Utica 

Eaton, P.O. 120 365 2263—0 134,259—141 Eaton. 

Hamilton, p.o. 110 384 2220—1 184,850- 179 Hamilton, 40 h. 1 m. H 

Lebanon, 115 271 1634-2 107,490—177 o5 miles from Utica. 

Lenox, r.o. 118 291 1732-11 85,156-117 25 miles from Utica. 

Madison, p.o. 113 359 2229 -4 164,436—256 Madison, 25 h. & 1 m. H. 

Nelson, 13U 283 1763—3 104,100—170 33 miles from Utica. 

Snnthfield, 1. 122 438 2651—2 124,308—193 Pcterboro V., p.o. 35 h. 

Sullivan, p.o. 126 328 1974—3 156,954—180 Canaseraga, 35 houses. 

9 4116 25,144 35 §1,558,843 2214 

The N. part of Madison County bounds on Oneida Lake ; the N. E. is washed by 
Oneida creek ; the E. by Unadilla river, on both which it is bounded; and the Chit- 
teningo, forms its boundary for a icw miles at the N. W. extremity. Cotuasselon 
Chitteningo, and Canaserag-a creeks, spread over the northern and v/estern part ; 
and Chenango river rises from many small streams spread over the central and 
southern part. Otselick creek, and some small head sti-eams of Tioiighnioga, water 
the S. westei-n part. Linklaen lake, lies in Cazenovia ; which receives Lime-stone' 
creek, and discliarges the Chitteningo. 

The surface of this comity, is but moderately uneven in the S. part ; the north- 
ern part is quite level. The soil is somewhat variegated, but the whole is fer- 
tile. Few if any of the counties of the western district, are calculated to sup- 
port an equal population on the same area. Gypsum, iron-ore, lime-stone, are 
among its products ; and much comparative wealth is possessed by its inhabitants, 
who are principally English, and active and industrious farmers. This County, 
includes the largest part of the New-Petcrsburgh tract of land, and of the New- 
Stockbridge Reservation ; and no humane and benevolent American can fail to re- 
member that this is a part of the favorite land of the Aborigines, now thinly 
scattered over the United States. The numerous turnpikes and great leading 
roads that traverse tins county, sufficiently indicate the importance of its geo- 
graphical position. Cazenovia, the shire town, is situated on the great western 
turnpike, 130 miles from Albany, 20 miles N. of West ; and about 20 miles S.- 
W. from ULica, and the same distance eastward from Onondaga. The Manufac- 
tures of this county may be seen in the General Table, page 50, to be of con- 
siderable importance. A large portion of the inhabitants ;u-e husbandmen, sober, 
temperaie, industrious, peacei,ble, and good citizens. Much of the clothing is 
made in tlie I'amiiies ot the fanners, and at a much cheaper rate than it could be 
purchased irom any large manufactories, domestic or foreign. Madison Co., sends 
3 Meiiibefs to Uie House ot Assembly. 



84 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOHK. 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 

JMont^omerv Comity, was named in honor of General ^Montgomery, in 1784, having 
heibre been called Tryon County. It was one of the 14 counties organized by the 
general orjcanizittion act of 1788 ; and was then, and still is the laigcst county in 
the state. " It is bounded N. by St. Lawrence and Franklin counties ; E. by Essex, 
Washing-ton, Saralop;a, and a small ang-le of Schenectady County ; southerly by 
b'ciienectady, Schoharie and Otsego Counties ; W. by Herkimer County. Its great- 
est lenc^th N. and S., 89 miles ; greatest width, 38 miles. The whole area, is 2,762 
square'miles, or 1,767,680 acres. Situated between 42" 47' & 44" 07' N. latitude > 
€4' W. & 54' W. longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. CENSUS, &c. 1810. 

Toivns. P. Offices. Popu. NO. tax. Inliab. Remarks. 

Amsterdam, r.o. — 3039 4uO Amsterd. V., 3o h. & s. 27 m. fr. A. ; Veddersburgli. 

Eroadalbin, r.o. — ;238 307 Broadalbin V., 38 m. from Albany; Fondi.'s Bush. 

Canajoharie, p.c— 4010 613 Canajoharie V.,20h., 50m.fr. A.; Bowman's creek. 

Charleston, p.o.— 5'^83 660 Old M. Castle, 10 m. fr. Johnstown, 38 fr. Albany. 

rlorida, p.o. — 2777 290 Old Mohawk Castle, Johnson-Hall, 35 m. fr. Aib'y. 

JoHNSTowy, P.O. 1-6225 817 Johnsto-zun V., inc., 121 h., 41 m. fr. A.; Cahnawaga, 

Manheim, p.o. — 1444 221 60 m. from Alb'y. 25 W. from J. [p.o., 30 h. 

^layfield, 2065 380 40 m. N. W. from Albany, 8N. E. from Johnstown. 

Mu'iden, P.O.— 4788 653 Old Indian Castle, Fort Plahi, Fall Hill, 62 m. fr. A. 

Northampton, P.O.— 1474 242 50 m. N. E. from Albany ; Great Fiy and M.t. Joy. 

Oppenheim, 2693 424 Oppenheim V., 55 m. fr. A. ; 14 N.W. fr. Johnstown. 

r;;latine, r.o.— 3111 547 Palatine V., 40 h., 55 m. from A. ; Stone Arabia,52. 

Salisbury, 1252 200 75 m. from Albany, 30 N.W. from Johnstown. 

Stratford, ■ 353 206 68 m. from Albany, 27 N.W. from Johnstown. 

"Wells, 465 320 Pezeeke lake, and sources of the Hudson 

11 41905 6180 

Tiie County of ]\Iontgomery, like Herkimer, has the Mohawk running eastward 
quite across "the whole county, near its southern extremity : and like that county, 
Li<s mucii the same character of surface, soil and climate, as referred to tlie diiier- 
ent portions of the whole territorj-. Its waters are very numerous. The Mohawk 
receives, within this County, from the south, the Nowadaga, Otsquaga, Ca- 
najoharie and some other small creeks, besides the Schoharie creek or river, 
which rises in Greene County. From the north. East Canada, Garoga, and Chucte- 
nunda creeks, besides many smaller streams. The Sacanduga, a large branch of 
t!:e Hudson, has its sources in this county, and its covu-se for many miles. — 
And the north, or main branch of tlie Hudson, spreads over the noriherni 
part, which also furnishes the extreme sources of the Racket river, of the 
St. Lawrence. This part of Montgomery is clothed with evergreens, of an 
enormous size, and abounds with swamps, small lakes and marshes, litth: 
known. I'he seltlensents can hardly be said to extend beyond 25 miles 
N. of the Mohawk. Along that river, the broken lands are productive, and 
ihe alluvial tracts are extensive and rich. The southern hullj therefore, of 
tlie whole area, has almost ail the poi;uiation, .ind tliis part may be called a good 
tract of land ; v>!nJe the northern is of '.ery little value. The taxable property of 
this County, ajjrceable to the Supervisors' books for 1810, amounts to S 5,233,766 ; 
■.jkI the S'er.atorial Electors arc 3,684. In 1788, when first erected, JMontgomcry 
jnciuded all tliat pr.rt of the .-.late lying N. and W. of Ulster, Albany, \'. aslungton 
and Clinton counties — an immense aie.i, nov/ so numerously sub-divided, ;uid so 
])opuloTis. In 1786, the whole population of this county, was 15,057 : in 1790, that 
of the same ai-ea, 29,923 j in 1300, 163,690; an;l in 181u, more than 28U,UU0. 

The navis;ution of the Mohawk, and the goodness of the roads communicating 
with the Ihulscn, afi'oid important facilities of trade and intcicourse. No otlier 
stimulus for industi-y and enterprise, lias equal efficacy v.-ith that of direct jjrofits, 
by v.-hich the laborer is enriched. 1 he manufactui-es .are shewn in the General 
I'able, ]);ige 50, and the agricultural opulence is learnt from the amount of proper- 
ty. Abundantly furnished with good sites for water works, these conveniencics 
have been well improved, and there is a goodsupply of common mechanics. Vv heat, 
has loiig been a staple product of tl.e Mohawk country in general, and this country 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 85 

yields a vast amount. It is much to be regretted that the exuberant fertility of the 
wheat lands of this country should be subject to such husbandry as greatly to lesseh 
the value of this product : smut, and foul grain, v/hich have so much injured the 
quality and reputation of the wheat of the Mohawk country, are certainly excluded 
from the crops of the good husbandman. By greater care in tillage and in harvest- 
ing, both may be excluded. No wheat should ever be housed or mowed, while there 
remains sufficient greenness in the straw to occasion fermentation ; nor cut, unless I 
much mistake, while any of the joints remain green. At any rate, the subject is of 
sufTicient importance to induce' c.\perinaents in the hope of a remedy,; and I can 
but earnestly recommend to Farmers a fair tri;.l of these suggestions, particularly 
as relates to smut. Let the experiment be fairlj' tried, by reserving- a few rods in 
the midst of a field of smutty wheat, till fully ripe — till the straw be dry and the 
chaff" begin to open; then gather, prcsei've the grain separately, and use this for the 
seed of the next crop If smut be a disease of this invaluable and abiuidant product 
of our lands, how carefully should the good husbandman labour to find a remedy"! 
And had I not great confidence in this mode, I should not take the liberty to pro- 
pose it here. See Soil. AND Af.nicvi.TuRi;, page 17; and Vi:f;ETABLE and Animai 
Productioxs, page 20. The brining of seed, is generally known to be serviceable, 
though not much used in this country. 

It ought not to be forgotten that this county was the principal residence of the 
Mohawk Indians, and tlie chosen and favorite region of the Johnson family, long 
and eminently conspicuous as the peculiar favorites of those Indians, and as the 
agents of Great Britain. Nor ought we to forg'ct the ground consecrated to histo- 
ry, by the events of wars and the despicable Intrigues and raj^aeities which these 
produced, nor the series of reflections perpetuated by such records of memorial.— 
Montgomery County, sends 5 jNIcmbers to the House of Assembly. 



NEW- YORK COUNTY. 

J\'ew-York County, comprises the Island of Manhatt.an, or York-Island, on the E. 
side and near the nioutli of Hudson river. It is about 14 1-2 miles long, from N. 
to S., and the width varies from onc-!ialf mile to two miles. Tlie medial width 
may be about 1^ mile, and the area 21| square miles, or 13,920 acres. Situated 
between 40° 42"' and 40° 52' N. ; and 0' and 08' E. Longitude from the City of 
New- York. Bounded on the N. and E. by Haarlem and East rivers, S. and W. by 
the Hudson, or by York Bay and the State of New-Jersey. The limits of the Coun- 
ty, Town, and City of New-York, are the same ; and the only legal sub-divisions, 
ai-e the Wards, 10 in number, of various extent according to local convenience. — 
See J\'e-iv-York City. The jurisdiction of the City and County of New-York, ex- 
tends to low-water mark on the opposite shores of the waters "that surround this 
county. And thus it happens that Governor's*, Ellis's, and Bedlow's Islands in 
New-York Bay, and Blackwell's, Parsell's, and several other small islands near 
Hurl-Gate, belong to the County of New-York.f The other little islands are. Man- 
ning's, Great and Little Barn, &c. The City of New-York, occupies the S. W. end 
of the island, immediately at the confluence of tlic Hudson and East Rivers. And 
from this pouit, tlie Bay of New-York spreads to the S. W. about 9 miles long and 
3 wide, affording depth of water sufficient for any ships that sail the ocean, and 
very convenient and secure harbors. A peculiarity of situation, gives to the jjosi- 
tion of New-York a most commanding superiority for navigation. For besides its 
contiguity to the ocean, and its harbor being very rarely obstructed by frost, the 
combined influence of the double tides from the ocean ari-iving at different periods 
through the East river and by Sandy-Hook, produce a stronger current and hig'her 
tides than could be formed from their action through one cliannel. An action that 
extends its benefits far up the Hudson, which see. By the iijcreascd momentum of 
these currents, too, the waters at New-York are less influenced by frost than might 

* Tlie jurisdiction of this island has been ceded by tJie State to the United State.?, 
for the erect ion of works for defence of the harbor. It contains ablmt 70 acres of land. 

f Dr Mitchill 

12 



86 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 

be expected, as will be seen by a comparison with other waters. At New-York, the 
water is but little less saline than that of the ocean ; the tides are higher than on 
ihe S. side of Long-Island, as they are for many miles up the Hudson. Combining 
these facts, with considerations of the immense and increasing navigation of the 
Hudson and East rivers, anAthe vast extent of fertile territory which must for- 
ever trade tlu-ough these channels, we are lost in wonder when we contemplate the 
future grandeur of this commercial Metropolis of North America. Nor can we 
suppress a sigh, when we think of its fate in the event of a wai* with some nation, 
vigorous and strong in the energies of naval warfare. The soil of York-Island is 
considerably diversified in quality, though a large portion is a light sand or sandy 
loam, and the surface low with little diversity ; — though toward the northern part 
some elevations have obtained the name of heights. Haarlem Heights will long be 
remembered by Americans, associated with important events, of the Revolutionary 
war ; as will Fort-Washington, near the northern extremity of the island. A fine 
toll-bridge across Haarlem river, at the head of the island, connects the Counties 
of New-York and Westchester, 15 miles from the City of New-York. The g'ood- 
ness of the road to this bridge, with the pleasing variety of scenery, and of views 
highly picturesque and interesting, has long since made a ride to Kingsbridge a 
favorite amusement with the citizens ; — and no one can be more elegantly pleasing. 

The agriculture of New- York County, is highly respectable in the style of ele- 
gant improvement ; and its horticulture or gardening-, is necessarily in the fii'st 
stvle of this country. For the Manufactures, see J\eiv-I'ork City, as also for popu- 
lation, commerce, &c. The whole present population of this county, probably 
exceeds 100,000, could there be an exact enumeration. Agreeable to the Census 
of 1810, it amounted to 96,373. In 1805, a Census was taken by order of the Cor- 
poration of the City, immediately after the yellow fever of that year, when it was 
found to be 75,770 ; and that 26,996 of these had retired from the city during the 
prevalence of that fever. In 1808, it was 83,530 ; in 1800, 60,489 ; in 1790, 33,131 ; 
in 1756, 13,040 ; in 1697, 4302. 

There are several small villages on York-Island, detached from the compact part 
of the citj', the principal of which are Greenwich, 3 miles above the city, on the 
bank of the Hudson, containing the State-Prison or Penitentiary ; Manhattanville 
and Haarlem, still further north, and Bioomingdale. There are also many country- 
seats, known by local names — and the seats of taste and elegance are designated 
according to the fiuicy of proprietors ; besides many spots kno\vn to history and 
common usage. Elgin, the name of the Botanic Gai-den, now the property of the 
State, claims distinguished notice ; and Haai-lem Heights, and Commons, and Fort 
"Washington, nearly opposite Fort Lee on the Jersey shore, by being long known as 
of some importance in the Revolutionary war, continue to fix attention. Indeed 
the whole island is thus consecrated to memory ; and the Battery is happily better 
known at present for the elegance of its walks and views, than by the thunder of 
its cannon. Among the remaining local names are the Park, Ranelagh and Vaux- 
hall Gardens, Bowery Road, Bellevue, Belvedere, Rose-Hill, the residence of the 
late General Gates, Richmond-Hill, Incleberg, Harsinville, Petersfield, Whitehall, 
Corlaer's Hook, Horn's Hook, Kip's Bay, a part of Hurl-C^ate, Fort Columbus or 
Fort Jay, Castle Williams, and other Forts recently erected within the harbor, by 
the United States, mounting in all upwards of 300 pieces of ordnance. The militia 
of this Co., consist of lO regiments of Infantry, 3 of Artillei'y, 1 company of Flying 
do., and 1 of Veteran Volunteers; 1 battalion of Riflemen, and 1 squadron of Caval- 
ry 1 he field-pieces are of brass, well mounted and found. See ^\'ew-Vork Citi'. — ■ 
This County sends 11 Members to the House of Asiembh-. 

NIAGARA COUNTY. 

J^Tiagara County, was erected from Genesee, March 11, 1808, being of the same 
date with Cataraugus and Chatauqiia Counties. It is bounded W. by Niagara river 
and Lake Erie, or the British possessions in Canada, S. by Cataraugus Co., E. by 
Genesee Co., N. on L. Ontario, or by the British possessions in Canada. The E. 
line is 53 miles long, from t'ataraugus creek to L. Ontario ; the gi-catest width, 31 
miles— least, 18 miles exclusive of the waters. The whole land area, may be about 
1405 square miles, or 899,200 acres. Situated between 42'' 25' and 43° 24' N. La- 
titude ; 4" 38' W. and 5" 20' W. Long-itude from New-York, 



GENERAL VEIW OF COUNTIES. 87 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. CENSUS, &c. of 1810. 
Towns. P. Offices. Popula. S. Elec. Remarks, VUlages, &c. 

BuTFAto, P.O.— 1508 — 151 BiiffaloY.* 100 h. & s.296 m. fr. A. ; Blk. Rock V.& Land. 

Cambria, 3. — 1465 20 Manchester, p.o. — Lewlston, p.o. — Fort Niagara, p.o. — 

Clarence, p.o.— 1331 106 280 m. from Alb., on the road to Buffalo. [Niag. Falls. 

Willinck, 2028 260 315 miles from Albany. 

5 6032 537 

The.County of Niagara, extending- from Lake Ontario on the N., to Cataraugus 
creek on the S. ; — embracing on the \V., Niagara river with its islands to the main 
channel, and a considerable estent of L. Erie, must necessarily present a greater 
diversity of soil, surface and loc.il position, than can be well comprised in a brief 
general description. The general surface is elevated, though rather a lofty plain, 
than hilly ; or rather a number of plains terminating in ledges on the N., and 
each declining in altitude as you approach the borders of the Ontario, the waters 
of which are about 350 feet below the midland surface of Niagara County, distant 
20 to 28 miles. The whole of this County, with Genesee, Cataraugus, Chatauqua, 
and a part of Allegany, were included in the Purchase of Robert Morris, Esq., a 
large part of which is now owned by the Holland Company. And, much credit is 
due to this company, principally foreigners, for its liberal and enlightened policy 
in promoting the settlement and prosperity of the Western Country. Their agent 
for sales of Latid, Joseph Ellicott, Esq., resides at Batavia, in the County of Gene- 
see. See Holland Purchase. 

The principal waters of Niagara Ccimty, besides those above named, are Buffalo 
Creek, which, with its several branches Seneca, Cayuga, and Cazenovla creeks, 
empties into Lake Erie at the Village of Buffalo, or New- Amsterdam ; Tonnevian- 
tla creek, which enters the E. arm of Niagara river opposite the widest part of 
Grand Island, soon after it has received EUicott's creek ,- Caughquaga creek, of L. 
Erie, Eighteen-mile creek of L. Ontario, and several smaller streams. Its waters 
run westward or northward, and the streams abound witli falls and good sites for 
mills. The soil is rich in general, though of various kind.s and qualities. Hap- 
pil}' there is little black muck, or deep vegetable mold. Of its climate, geology, 
mineralogy, and products, little else is known than that it belongs to the western 
or inland description of climate, which see, page 12 i and the General Viev/ may 
be consulted for the other articles also. The prairies, or unwooded plains of this 
county are very extensive, and the land is dry, warm and rich. 

The rapid growth of the Village of Buffalo, elegantly situated on the E. shore 
of Lake Erie, at the head of Niagara river, may be taken as a pretty certain indi- 
cation of its future greatness. Its trade is fast increasing, and must continue to 
increase, being the natural emporium for a vast extent of country. Black Rock, 
Manchester, Lewiston, &c., are noticed under the Tojiography, which see. Niaga- 
ra County claims a proud celebrity, from the celebrated Cataract of Niagara — one 
of the greatest wonders of the natural world ! 

The Ridge lload, traverses a considerable extent of this County, and the Grand 
Canal which is to connect Lake Erie with the Hudson, must commence in Niagai-a 
County. To this county, the provisional counties of Chatauqua and Cataraugus ares 
attached at present, for the purposes of elections and the administration of justice. 
See those counties. Niagara, in connexion with them, sends 1 Member to the 
House of Assembly. When I passed through this co'.intry, on an niland tour to the 
Ohio, in the year 1797, I think there was but one house between Genesee river 
and the vicinity of Buffalo ; and the vast prairies presented a grand subject f^p 
contemplation ; in some places level and open, for many miles, 

ONEIDA COUNTY. 

Otieida County, \ was erected from Herkimer Co. in 1798, and was then very es- 
tensive; but the northern part of Oneida was erected into two other counties, Jef- 

* Or JVew-Amsterdam, as sometimes called, by the agents of the Holland Company. 

"(■ Oneida, is a -vord of Indigerial origin. It is a corruption of Oneiyuta, upright or 
standing stone, in the dialect of the Oneidas. Cahnowellahella, the Indian name of the 
present residence of (his f^ibc, ■j>g!)ifi.e7 a pkvM-bone or. ths top cf a pole or post. 



gg GA7ETTE FR OF NFW-YOKK. 

ferson and Lewis, in 1805. Its present form is very irrcg;ular : Bounded northerly 
by Jefferson and Lewis Counties, E. by Herkimer Co., Southerly by Mudison and 
Onondaga Counties, through the channel of Oneida creek and lake, and Oswego 
river ; Westwardly on L. Ontario, or by the British Possessions in Canada. The 
area may be about 2036 square m;lcs, or 1,303,040 acres. Situated between 42° 52' 
and 44" 25 N. Latitude j 1" 05' W. and 2 30' W. Longitude from New-Yor^. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, kc. of 1810. 

Towns. P. Offices. Popu. S. Elcc. Remarks, Villages, &e. 

Augusta, 2uU4 — 350 Abouthalfof the N. Stockb. land. 17m.S.W.fr. Utica. 

Bengal, 454 71 27 m. N. W. fr. Utica, at the N. E. extremity of Onei. L. 

Boonville, P.O. 393 67 Boonvillc, or B. Settlem., 25 m. N. fr. U.on Blk. R.road. 

Bridge w.ater, P.O. — 1170 — 151 12 m.S.fr. Utica. The southern extrem. of the County. 
Camden, p.o.— 1132^-178 On the N. of Bengal & Oneida L., 30m. N.W. fr. Utica. 

Constant ia, 153 26 Rotterdam, & the remains of Fort Brewerton, N.E. end 

Deerfield, 1232—117 Deerfield, N. of Mohawk, opposite Utica. [of O. L. 

Florence, 396 62 32 m. N. W. from Utica. N. of Camden and Bengal. 

pio\d, 970 — 127 10 m. N. from Utica, 6E. from Rome. Iron-ore. 

Lee", * * erected April, 1811, fr. Western. 25 m. N.W. fr. Uti. 

Mexico, 845 — 123 Mexico, on L. Ontario, & Salmon C. Harbor. 65 m. f. U. 

pans, p.o.1-5418— 652 Clinton V.,55h.&s.p.o. StAcad'y.; Paris Hill, 35 h.&.s. 

Redfield, p.o. 362 57 45 m. N.W. fr. Utica ; 36 E. from Oswego. [Hanover V. 

Remsen, r.o. 489 33 26 m. N. from Utica; 55 m. N. W. from Johnstown. 

Richland, 947 — 152 55 m. N. W. from Utica, at the end of L. Ontario. 

Ro-.ir., P.O.— 2003— 182 /iomeV.,95h. Canal, 16m. N.W. fr. U.; 60 fr. Oswego. 

Sangerfield, r.o. — 1324 — 177 Sangerfield V., 50 houses ; 15 m. S. fiom Utica. 

Scriba, 1. 328 11 Oswego Fort, r.o. ; 178 miles from Albany. 

Steuben, 1105 — 140 Baron Steuben's Patent, 110m. fr. Alb. 20m.fr. Utica. 

Trenton, r. o.— 1548— 127 Trenton V., 70 h., Falls, 13 m. N. fr. Utica, 107 m. f A. 
Vei-non, P.o. — 1519 — 190 Vernon V., 35 h.& glass manufaqtories. OneidaCastle. 

Verona, 1014 — 151 Fort Royal &. Wood Creek Landing, 127 m. fr. Albany. 

Volney, t t Oswego Falls, 15 dwellmgs, 165 m. from Albany. 

Western, 2416 — 275 20 miles N. liom Utica,. 8 from Rome. 

Westmoreland,ro. 1-1135— 141 Hampton p.o. ; Ueane's Tract, 11 m. W.from U. [p.o. 
W;nTESTOw.v,p.o.2-4912 — 533 Hldiesboro^ 100 h.; Utica, 300 h., P.O., 97 f A.; N.Hart. 
WiUiamstown, 562 — 82 40 m. N.W. of Utica; 33E.of Oswego; ION. of Rotter- 

— ■ — — — [dam. 

17-33,792-4175 

The County of Oneida is very extensive, has a large aggregate population, and a 
•Treat amount of property. Independent of its central position, as regards the 
whole territory of the state, the geographical position is commanding and very- 
important. Its villages, already of" much eompai-ative magnitude and trade, have 
the great avenue of intercourse between Albany and the western parts of the state 
leading directly through them. Here is the western navigable extremity of tlie Mo- 
huwk, and the short canal connecting that nver with th<i waters of Lake Ontario ; 
and in consequence the natural depot of tlie products and trade of a vast extent of 
.surrounding territory, opulent of agriculture, with a soil of great fertility. — Unless 
I misjudge very grossly, this county will long cherish manufactures, and is destin- 
ed to become, at some future period, the greatest seat of manufacturing in this 
state. The face of the country is in general very level, .and the only tract that 
borders on a hilly character, is a small portion of the eastern part ;- while on the 
N. and westward from tlie Oneida Lake, it is almost a dead level. The snialV 
streams are very numerous. Here are the sources of the ^]Ioha-ii-k,\ spread over 
the eastern p.art. The Susquehanna receives some small waters from two of the 
southern towns, through tlie Unadilla and Chenango branches of that river ; and 
Black river crosses the N. E. corner, while IV. Cimadn creek forms a small part 
of its eastern boundary. Oneida creek runs into the head of Oneida Lake, form- 



* Population, ^c. included loith Western ,- f PopulatiojJ, &c. included vnth Scribe. 
Towns from -which these have been recently erected. 
% See Mghawk River, for the etumology of this ?iamc. 



GENFl^AL VIFW OP COUNTIES. 89 

ing the boundai-y toward Miidison Co. ; and Jf'ood creek, which rises near tlie Mo- 
hawk, extends the communication with the Mohawk and Oneida Lake into which 
it also empties, at the E. end, and receives Fish creek near its mouth, larger 
than itself. Tlie Oneida L., is half in this county, as is also Oncego river, its 
outlet, which enters L. Ontario at Fort Oswego. The Oriskcmij,* and the Sak- 
queda creeks, water the southern part, and run X. into the ^Fohawk in Whites- 
town. The Skanando rises in Augusta, and runs into Oneida creek. From the 
N., the Mohawk receives J\'ine-J\lilc, and some other small creeks, as do the 
Oaeida L., and Oswego river. Little SanJt/ creek, and Salmon creek, and Little 5a/- 
mon creek, with many others, run ijito Li.ke Ontario. 

The taxable property of this County, agreeable to the valuations on the Super- 
visors's books, exceeds 4,000,OUO dollars : a valuation far below the current value 
of property. In agi-iculture, Oneida County takes a high rank ; as it does also 
in the extent and variety of its manufactures. See Maxitactures, pag-e 49. The 
mills and v.ater-works ai-e very numerous. But the fur greater pan of the popula- 
tion is confined to the eastern half of the county, the western being comparatively 
wild. Nor must we in this summary view, fail to notice particularly the compact 
settlements or villages of this county. Utica, on the S. bank of the Mohawk, 97 
miles N. of W. from Albany, has an immense and rapidly hicreasing trade, as 
have Whitcsborougli and New-Hartford, all in Whitestown j and Rome, finely seat- 
ed on the Canal, 16 miles N. W. from Utica, has also a brisk trade. The Co»u-ts 
for the County are held alternately at Whitesborongh and Home. Trenton, Ver- 
non, Clinton, Sangerfield, and several others are very flourishing Villages, the 
seats of much taste and elegance. In aid<of the exertions of man;Uacturers, mo- 
nied men have taken a deep interest in the stock of manufacturing companies, 
and every mean has been used to impi'ove the breeds of domestic stock. The 
Merino has been introduced in considerable numbers, and a most zealous spirit 
of improvement pervades all classes of the community. — The falls of W. Canada 
creek, in Trenton, are a rare curiosity, and deserve early notice as such. — Onei- 
da County, sends 5 Members to the House of Assembly. 



ONONDAGA COUNTY. 

Onondaga Covnty,\ situated about 150 miles a little N. of W. from Albany, was 
erected in 1794, and received the Indigenal name for the country. It comprised 
the whole Military Tract, which now constitutes four countic?;, Seneca, Cayuga,* 
Cortlandt, and Onondaga, which is now restricted to a comparatively small ai'ea. 
It is bounded N. on Lake Ontario, or by the British Possessions in Canada, N. east- 
erly by Oneida Co., or Oswego river and a short distance on Oneida Lake, E. by 
Madison Co., S. by Cortlandt Co., W. by Cayuga Count}-. The area maj- be about 
907 square miles, or 580,480 acres. Situated between 42° 45' and 43" 30' N. Lati- 
tude ; 1* 54' W. and 2° 38' W. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, Sec. of 1810. 

Town'?. P. Offic. Popu. S. ElfC. Rrmarks. 

Camillus, po. — 2378—194 Grpsumburgh, 60 m. W. from Utica ; 157 from Albany. 

Cicero, 252 29 ChitteningoLand'g.& Three Riv. Point; 57f. U. 154f.A. 

Pabius, P.O.— 1865— 134 Ancient Works ; 50 m. S.W. from Utica, 147 fr. Albany. 

Hannibal, 1. 692 27 Oswego V., 30 h., r.o.— ISOmiles from Albany. 

Lysander, 624 86 20 m. N. W. fr. Onondaga, 17 fr. Oswego, 165 fr. Albany. 

Manlius, r.o 1-3127— 234 Jamesviller.o.35h.f"t s.; Manlius V., 85h.&.s.Eaglc Vil. 
Marcellus, I'.o. 1-4725— 387 Skeneateles V., 6oh. p.o.; 9m.creek,or Marcel. V., 34 h. 



* Ohrisk, or Och-risk, m the above dialect, is J\ettles — hence Orlakant/, from Oh- 
riska, the land of nettles, or where ihei/ grow. 

Mr. Webster, of Oneida, and other Interpreters. 

j" Onondaga, on the authority of Mr. Webster, Interpreter to tite Oneida;^, sig^iifes, 
in the dialect of the Indians, a stoatnp tinder, or at the foot of a hiU or mountain. S,:- 
candagn, i: sivamp. See Saeandaga River. Qncndaghcru, a place betvjeen 2 i;/i>. 



90 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOKK. 

O NO NDAGA,p.o.— 3745— 291 Onon. Hollow V., 65 h.; W. Hill V., C. H. & 40 h. 149 fr. A.- 

Otisco, 759 92 7 m. S. fr. Onondaga, 50 m. W. fr. Utica. [Onon. Castle.- 

Pompey, P.O.— 5669— 484 Pom. Hill, 40 h. & Ac, 146 m. ; P. E. Hollow, 140 m. f A. 

Salina, p.o.1-1259 78 Salina V., 90 h. &. 80 Salt W. ; Liverpool V., 80 h., p.o. 

Spafford, Erected in 181 1 ; pop. &c. inc. with TuUy ; 13 m. S. f. O. 

Tully, 1092 — 77 TuUy Flats, 14 m. S. fr. Onondaga, 50 S. of W. fr. Utica-. 

11-25987-2113 

The County of Onondaga, though not very extensive, embraces a most important 
portion of the territory of this state. Here are the Salt-Springs, an inexhaustible 
source of immense wealth ; beds of gypsum, or plaster, apparently of vast extent, 
mines of greater value to this country than the golden mountains of Peru. The 
soil is also good ; its waters, conveniently disposed for hydraulic -works and inland 
intercourse, offer great facilities of trade, — and the great roads connecting Albany 
with the western region, lay centrally through this county, nearly equi-distant be- 
tv/een Albany and Niagara. The principal streams are, the Oswego river, which 
forms a part of the N. eastern boundary ; the Seneca river from the W., which en- 
ters the Oswego at Three River Point ; — and besides these there are many smaller 
creeks, and some small lakes. Lake Ontario forms a part of the boundary of the 
County of Onondaga, as does L. Oneida, Skeneateles L., and Cross Lake ; while 
Onond'aga, or Salt L., Otisco, and Fish Lakes, are wholly within this county. Four 
of these lakes are very small, however, and but for the obstinacy of popular usage, 
•were better denominated ponds. The Chitteningo creek, which forms a part 
of the eastern boundary, empties into Oneida L., having received Limestone and 
Butternut creeks from 'the southern part of the county. Onondaga C. rises in Tul- 
ly, and runs N. into Onondaga L. ; and Otisco creek, rising in Spaffoi'd, enters the 
Otisco L., which discharges northward a small stream called Nine-mile-creek, Mar- 
cellus C, and some other names, but better Oiisca C, which enters the W. bank 
of Onondaga Lake. Skeneateles creek is the outlet of Skeneateles Lake t and there 
are several other small streams in every part, beside some small waters from the 3 
southern towns, to the Tioughnioga of the Chenango C, of the Susquehanna river. 
These several small streams supply abundance of mill-seats, and afford considerable 
facilities of intercourse and trade. The face of the country is, m general, hilly, 
though not mountainous, and is well watered. Limestone is found in great abun- 
dance. The soil is principally a calcareous loam, variously intermixed with vege- 
table mold ; a good medium for grain or grass. 

The first settlement attempted within the present territor)- of Onondaga Co., 
was in the spring of 1788, when most of the then settled territory that now con- 
stitutes the Western District, was comprised within Montgomery County. Onon- 
daga Co. was then a small part of Whjtestown, now restricted, by the rapid pro- 
gress of population, to a small ai-ea around Utica. In 1786, the population of 
Montgomery Co., was but 15057 — when tiie whole population of the state amount- 
ed to 238,896. Onondago County has now 48 or 50 School-houses, several Churches, 
or houses for public worship, an Academy, 34 grain-mills, 54 saw-mills, 2 or 3 
breweries, and too many distilleries. Salt is made here annually to the amount of 
near a half million of bushels, from the Salt Springs of this county, which afford 
water more strongly impregnated than that of the ocean, more than 200 miles dis- 
tant. See Salina. A large portion of the Inhabitants are farmers, of plain, indus- 
trious habits, who manufacture much of their clothing in their own families. For 
the remaining Manufactures, see the General Summary, page 49. 

While describing this portion of the state, opulent in the means of wealth and 
domestic happiness to civilized man, we must not forget the Indigenal tenants of 
its ancient wilds and forests, through a long succession of ages. Here roamed the 
untutored Indian tribes, the lordly sovereigns of a vast domain. And here, too, 
was their seat of power, the chosen centre of a grand and strong confederacy, pow- 
erful and populous ;— great in peace, terrible in war to all surrounding tribes. See 
Indians, page 57 ; and Histort, p. 59. When first visited by the Europeans, Onon- 
daga was the capital, (if I may be allowed the expression,) of the Iroquois confede- 
racy, which had then existed a long time, according to the aCCOVUits of thQ Ipdians, 
—Onondaga sends 2 Membej-s to tlie House of ^l*'*")'' 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 91 



ONTARIO COUNTY. 

Ontario County, was erected from Montgomery Co. in 1789, and comprised an 
extent of country now divided into 7 counties ; — Ontario, Steuben, Genesee, Niag- 
ara, AUegsnv, Cataraugus, and Chatauqua : or all that part of the state westwai-d 
from the Pre-emption line. The present extent of Ontario Co. is about 44 miles N. 
and S. ; the greatest E. and W. 45 miles ; — bounded N. on L. Ontario, or Canada 
line, E. by Seneca Co., S. by Steuben Co., "W". by Genesee County. The area is 
1777^ square miles, or 1,137,600 acres. Situated between 42" 34' N. and 43" 20' 
N. Latitude ; 2° 55' and 3" 56' W. Longitude from New- York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, See. of 1810. 

Towns. P. Offic. Popul. S. Elce. Remarks. 

Avon, i?.o. — 1880 — 151 Genesee Flats, Sulphur Spring. 21 m. W. Canandai. 

Benton, 1.— 3339 — 232 Jei'usalem, p.o., 210 m. fr. A. Pennyank, Hope town. 

Bloomfield, p.o. 1-4425— 453 Bloomville r.o., 220 m. fr. A. Bouton-hill, 14 m. f. Can. 

Boyle, P.O.— 2860— 177 Gen. Falls &. Teoronto Bay. 15m. N.W. fr. Canandai. 

Bristol, 1540—199 5 m. W. of Canandaigua, townships 8 & 9, 4th Range. 
CANAxnATGUAjP.o. — 2392 — 206 Canandaigtia V., 137 h., C.H.,an arsl. & acad., 208 f A. 

Farmington, 1908 — 204 Quaker M. H., 4 m. N.E. fr. Canand. Sulphur Springs. 

Geneseo, p.o. 894 — 203 Bigtree, Gen. Flats, Wadsworth's Farms. 20m.fr. 

Gorham, 2169 — 169 Chapin's mills. 8 m. E. of Canandaigua. [Canand. 

Honeoy, p.o.— 1372 87 Formerly Pittstown, 16 m. S.W. fr. Canan., 232 fr. A. 

Jerusalem, 450 44 Jemima Wilkinson's followers, 20 m. southerly fr. C. 

Lima, p.o. — 1474—143 Formerly Charleston, 18 m. W. fr. Canandaigua. 

Livonia, p.o.— -1187 72 20 m. S.W. fr. Canan. [16 N.of Geneva, 198fr. A, 

Lyons, p.o. Erected in 1811 ; pop. &c. inc. with Sodus. Lyons V., 

Middlesex, 1078 — 130 Formerly Augusta, 12 m S.E. from Canandaigua. 

Naples, P.O. 637 77 Formerly Middletown, 18 m. S. from Canandaigua. 

Ontario, 904 98 On L. Ontario, 20 m. N. from Canandaigua. 

Palmyi-a, P.O.— 2187— 290 Palmyra V., Friends or Quakers, 12 m. N.E. fr. Canan . 

Penfield, Erec. in 1811 fr. Boyle. Salt Springs, Bog-iron-ore. 

Phelps, 3408 — 241 12 m. E. from Canandaigua, 5 N. from Geneva. 

Seneca, 1. — 3431—317 Geneva V., 130 h., p.o., 192 fr. Alb., 16 E. of Canandai. 

Sodus, 1.— 1957 62 On L. Onta., Troupville p.o., 212 m. fr. A., 25 N.E. f. C. 

Sparta, 1397 65 Williamsburgh, 25 m. S.W. Canandaigua. 

Williamson, 1. — 1139 55 On L. Ontario, 20 m. N.E. Canandai. Pulteneyville p.o. 

16-42026-3620 

The County of Ontario is situated about 183 miles on a right line, a little N. of 
W'. from Albany, or 210 pursuing the stage roads. Tlie face of the country is con- 
siderably diversified, though little of it can be called hilly, and no part mountain- 
ous. The alluvial tracts are very extensive and proverbially rich, especially along 
the Genesee river. The soil is of various kinds, but on the uplands a rich mold or 
loam form much the largest proportion ; while along the borders of L. Ontario^ 
there are considerable tracts of clay and argillaceous earth, with but a light super- 
stratum of mold. The whole, however, may be pronounced a very excellent tract 
for the various products of agriculture. On the Genesee Flats, hemp succeeds 
well, and is raised in great quantities. — The waters of this county, are very nume- 
rous. On the N. it is washed by L. Ontario, by Genesee river on the W. ; extends 
to Seneca L. on the E., and embraces Canandaigua L., Canesus L., Hemlock L., Ho- 
neoy L., and the N. part of Crooked Lake, Next to Genesee river, Canandaigua. 
creek is the largest stream, which with INIud creek and other branches, spread over 
about one third of the countj-. The little Lakes above named, discharge streams 
which afford many good sites for mills, as do the smaller creeks that run N. into 
L. Ontario. 

Gerundegut or Teoronto bay, and a part of Great Sodus bay, on L. Ontario, arc 
within this count)--, and there are abundance of small springs and rivulets. — The 
great roads from Albany to the western part of the State, lead centrally across On- 
tario County, through the rich and flourishing Villages of Geneva, Canandaigua, 
and the elegant settlements of Bloomfield, Lima and Avon. Canandaigua, the ca- 
pital of this county, is finely sitiiwted on the margin of the outlet of the small lake 



92 GAZETTEFR OF NEW-YORK. 

of the same name ; and next lo Utica, is the most populous Villag-e in the Western 
Disti'ict. The inhabitants amount to about 1000, where but ?1 years agro there was 
only a miserable Indian Wigwam. Here are the county buildings, an Arsenal for 
military stores, an Academy, and many elegant houses and private mansions. 

For the Manufactures of this County, see the General Summary, page 49. The 
agriculture, already very respectable, is rapidly improving, under the general and 
progressive exertions of liardy industry, and the enlightened and patriotic exer- 
tions of men of wealth, talents, and influence. There are but few portions of this 
state, that display more of agricultural opulence than the countiy between Canan- 
daigua and Genesee river — a tract of country abounding alike with superior rich- 
ness and fertility of soil, and most elegant prospective views.— The whole original 
territory of Ontario Co., excepting one mile along tjie E. shore of Niagara river, 
extending from L. Ontario to the N. line of Pennsylvania, and from L. Erie to the 
Pre-emption line, running N. and S. through the N. part of Seneca Lake, was ceded 
to the State of Massucliusetts by the State of New- York, in 1787. This cession 
•was made to satisf}' a claim of Massachusetts, derived from the original Cliarter 
of that State, then a British Colony ; as was also that of 10 Townships of 6 miles 
.square, between the Unadilla and Tioughnioga branches of the Susquehanna, re- 
serving the jurisdiction to New-York. |n the year 1791, the whole population of 
Ontario County was but 1075, and the same area now contains 72,774 persons, 
agreeable to the returns of the Census of 1810. And it also contains 5830 Sena- 
torial Electors, or persons owning freeholds of the value of 250 dollars ; and pro- 
bably, in all, about 14,000 families. The household manufactures of Ontario Coun- 
ty alone, produced 524,530 yards of woollen, linnen, cotton and mixed cloths, in 
1810 ; — and there are 1903 looms. Great care and attention have marked the ef- 
forts of farmers in this county, to improve the breeds of domestic stock;— the 
]Merino has been introduced, with the choicest breeds of horned cattle. A Mr. 
Wadsworth of lloneoy, an extensive and enterprising farmer, has near 3000 slieep, 
of his own flocks. Ontario County, sends 5 Members to the House of Assembly. 



ORANGE COUNTY. 

•Oranffe Connly, is of ancient date. It was represented in the Legislature of 
this State, then colony, March 1699 ; and in April, I find a law directing that 
Courts of Sessions and Pleas be held in Orange that year. Orange County, was 
one of those formed also by the General Organization Act of 1788, when it com- 
prised that portion of this state lying S. of an E. and W. line from the mouth 
of Murderers' or Martler's creek, to Pennsylvania ; — and by that of 1801, when 
Rockland County had been erected from the southern part. At present it is not 
very extensive ; and is bounded northerly by Sullivan and Ulster Counties, E. by 
the middle of the Hudson, southerly by Rockland Co., and the State of New-Jer- 
sey ; W. by Pennsylvania a short distance, and a small angle of Sullivan County. 
The area may be about 600 square miles, or 389,760 acres. Situated between 41° 
08' N. and 41° 38' N. Latitude ; 10' E. and 43' W. Longitude from New- York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810. 

Towns. P. Offic. Popul. S Elec. Remarks. 

Blooming-Grove, 1759—121 Salisbury V., 20 h. mills, f;c. B. Grove, 110 m. f. A. 

Cornwall, 1.— 1769 95 W. Point, 108; Canterbury, r.o. 102m.fr. Albany. 

Decr-Park, l'>30— 105 30 m. W. fr. New-Burgh, 14 fr. Goshen, 1 .'5 fr. Alb. 

Goshen, r.o. 1-3155— 281 G'o^Ae/! V., inc.,50h., 112 m.; Chester p. o,, 115m.f.A. 

Minisink, 4005—329 25 m. W. fr. New-Burgh. AV. Town, Brookfield. 

Montgomery, 1.— 4710— 343 Montgomery V., inc., 45 h. and Wards-bridge r.o. 
Munroe, p. o. 1-2570 — 112 Munroe Works, p. o. ; Aug,-usta Works ; Iron-ore. 

NEW-BunGH, P.O. — 4627 — .307 J\cty-i?wr§7i V., inc.400h., 95m.f. A. G.ardnertown. 
New-AVindsor, p.o.— 2331— 147 N. Windsor V., 99 m f. A.; Lit. Britain p.o. 58 f N.Y. 
Wallkill, P.O.— 4213— 347 20 m. W. of N. Burgh ; Scotchtown, 115 m. fr. A. 

Vfarwkk, r.o.1-3978— 323 W;u-wick V., 30 h., 120m.; Florida V., oh., 117fr. A. 

11 34347 2510 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 



The County of Orange, embraces the tract occupied by the Highland Mountains, 
for which see Motjxtains, page 9. No other County of this State has so large a 
proportion of i-ugged, moimtainous land ; and none so large of drowned lands, co- 
vered with u-ater and recent alluvion from the hills and mountains. The soil, 
however, of the drowned lands, promises well to good agriculture ; being inex. 
haustibly rich and productive of hemp and other plants requiring a strong soil, 
when sufficiently drained. The mountains and hills are very rocky, rugged and 
steep ; but they yield abundance of iron -ore of superior quality, with wood and 
timber ; and the country is abund.intly supplied with mill-streams, natural-ponds 
and fine sites for hydraulic works. Marble, lime, sand-stone and quartzose stones 
abound. On the E., Orange is washed by the Hudson ; IVallkiU, or creek, rises 
in New-Jersey, and with some other branches, flows through the drowned lands, 
and across the western part of Orange Co. into Ulster N. eastward, and enters 
the Hudson i\ear Kingston. The S/iaxvanjiink creek, a principal branch, foi-ms a 
part of the we;, tern boimdary of Orimge, as does Delaware linger a. smaller part, and 
Mongaup creek ; while J\'avesinck creek, another branch of the Delaware river, 
crosses the v/cstern angle in Deer-Park, at the western part of the Shawangvmk 
mountain, a principal ridge of the Apallachian mountains, of vast extent. War- 
■wick, Poclmck, and Rutp-ers' creeks, are other branches of Wallkill. Murderers' or 
JWartler's creek, which enters the Hudson opposite PoUopell island, with its se- 
veral brunches, spread over the eastern and central parts ; its principal branch 
being Otterkill or creek. J\'ew.Bvrgh creek, waters the S. E. angle, and enters 
the Hudson midway between New-P.iirgh and New-Windsor. Ramapo, and Sterling 
creeks, Waters of the Passaic of New-Jersey, rise in Or;.nge Co., pass Munroe, 
Augusta, and Sterling Iron Works, extensive establishments ; supplying also Ring- 
Wood and otlier similar works in New-Jersey, and in Rockland County of Ncw- 
Yoik. The small natural ponds are very numerous ; but tlieir nrmies, longer than 
their waters, are of little importance. See the Topography of Towns. The drown- 
ed lands lie in Minisink, Goshen and Warwick. 

The agriculture of this county, may not be supposed to yield a vast amount of 
products, but it is still respectable ; and tlie farm lands of several lowns are in 
u high state of cultivation. The Manafactures may be seen in the General Sum- 
mary, page 49. The courts are held alternately at Go-^/iCn, in the interior, and at V 
Aeiu-Jiiirgh. — Nev/-Burgh, a half shire of tills county, situated on the W. bank of 
the Hudson, 65 miles N. of New- York, and 95 belmv Albany, is a very thriving 
place, and )k.s a brisk trade. The situation is elevated, healthy, and very delight- 
ful. And New-Windsor, two miles below, also on the Hudson, is pleasantly situ- 
ated, has some trade, and an increasing population. And these towns, tlioug-h so 
surmounted by lofty and rugged mountains, are well connected with the exten- 
sive countries W. of those, by numerous tui'npikes and roads of great extent. 

This County sutlered considerably during the Revolutionary struggle for Inde- 
pendence. Here was the celebrated Fortress of West Point, the natural Gibraltar 
of America, the scene of Arnold's treachery, of Anonymous' base designs ;- and 
of Washington's ])urc and patriotic triumph of greatness over foreign hostility 
and domestic malignity, dark and insidious as treacherous and base. — Here, too, 
were Forts Putnam and Montgomery — and this comity abounds witii the memo- 
rabilia of Hi.itoric record to lasting fame. But long, very long may it be, be- 
fore similar scenes occur to give celebrity, or to perpetuate remembrance. West- 
Point presents now a mass of venerable ruins, — and the passing traveller surveys 
from the Ilvidson its lofty and almost solitary monuments of war, surmoimted 
by the huge rocky walls of Fort Putnam, towering in the distant back-ground, 
hoary from nakedness — a fit similitude of age and decay. A Military School is 
kept at West-Point, where there are a few soldiers stationed, for the convenience 
of the School. — Orange County sends 4 Members to the House of Assembly. 



[Note. — While reading the proofs of this sheet, I am informed of the death of 
the venerable Geoiige Clintov, at Washington, while Vice-President of the United 
States. He was a native of Orange County, though of that part of it formerly iu 
Ulster ; and it is but a just tribute of I'espect to his memory, that I thus notice 
his nativity, and the important services he has rendered his native State and the 
Union, of which he was long a conspicuous Member, in many import;mt ofBees. — 
He died f\iU of honors, as of years, April 20, 1813 ] 



J 3 



94 OAZFTTEFR OP NFW-YORK. 

OTSEGO COUNTY. 

Otsego County, was erected from MontgoTr-ery Co. in ir91, when 5 new Counties 
tPere erected. It is situated 65 miles W. of Albany, between the branches of the 
Susquehanna including Otsego and Schuyler's lakts, sources of that river. Bound- 
ed N. bv a small angle of Oneida Co., by Herkimer ai^d Montgomery Counties, E by 
Schoharie Co., Southerly by the Susquehanna, or by Delaware Co.,' W. by the Una- 
dlila, or by Chenango and Madison Counties. The form is irregular, and the area 
may be about 935 square miles, or 598,400 acres. Situated between 42' 20 ' and 42* 
56'' N. Latitude ; 35' W. and l" 28' W. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, 2iC. of 1810. 

ToxvTis. P- Offic Popiil. S. Elec. Remarks. 
Burlington, P.O.— 3196 — 294 Burlington, 78 m. fr. A.; 12 W. of Otsego V., or Coop- 
Butternuts, P.O.- 3181—243 21 m. S. W. from Otsego, 87 fr. Albany. [erstown. 
Cherry-Valley,r.o.— 2775— 223 Cherry- Valley V., 85 h. & a<iad'y. 53 m. fr. A., 13 f Ot. 
Decatur, 902—85 12 m. S. E. fr. Otsego V. ; taxable property §45,431. 

Edmeston, 1317 90 18 m. W. fr. Otsego, 84 fr. A. Mt. Edmeslon Farm. 

Exeter, 1418—120 Schuyler's Lake, 10 m. N. W. of Otsego. 

Hartwick, r,o.— 2002—264 5 m. S. W. from Otsego, 71 m. from Albany. 

Laurens, Erect, in 1810, fr. Otego. Quaker M. H. 1£ m. fr. Ot. 

Maryland, 1106— r-77 Cromhorn hills, 16 miles S. from Otsego V. 

Middletield, 2003—233 3 miles from Cooperstown, 63 W. of Albanv. 

Milford, P.O.— 2025-139 10 m. S. of Otsego V.— taxable property £191,747. 

New-Lisbon, p.o. 1-1982 — 176 Garratsville p o., 81 miles from Albany. 

Otego, P.O.— 2512— 216 20 miles S. W. from Otsego, 86 from Albany. 

Otsego, 1.— 3810— 399 Oiscgo V.,* inc., 110 h. & s., C. H. &.c. ; 66 m". fr. A. 

Pittsfiold, 745 -52 15 miles S. of W. from Otsego, 81 troni Albany. 

Plainfield, p.c— 21"2— 168 15 miles N. W. from Otsego, 76 from Albany. 

Riclifield, P.O.— 2079-209 13 miles N. W. of Otsego, 85 from Albany. 

Springfield, P.O.— 1846—186 12 miles N. of Cooperstown, 58 miles from Albany. 

UnadiUa, p.o.— 1426- 116 Unadilla V., 100 m. S of W.fr. A.,34S.W.fr. Otsego. 

"Wcstford, 1215 75 8 miles S. E. of Otsego.—taxable property 1S78,318. 

Worcester, 1140 — 87 Shenevas Flats ; 13 miles S. E. of Otsego. 

13-38802-3506 

The County of Otsego, furnishing the main sources of the E. branch, or proper 
Susquehaima, and some small waters that run N. into the Mohawk, may be sup- 
posed to comprise an derated tract. The Catsberg.s, or the CatskiU hills noticed 
under Mountains, page 9, combining with the ranges of hills from the Susquehanna 
country, form here a kind of rugged confusion, and extend across the Mohawk into 
Herkimer Co., forming the Little Falls, and the elevated tract of the Royal Grants. 
But in Otsego Co., there is little of distinct continuity of ranges of hills, and no 
very lofty summits, though the country be elevated, considerably broken and hilly, 
if not mountainous. But it is abvmdantly well watered with small springs and ri- 
vulets, and well supplied with mill-streams and sites for water works. Besides 
the streams mentioned as forming parts of the boundaries of Otsego, it has But- 
ternut creek, a large branch of Unadilla the Western boundary, Otego creek, 
fjiicnevas creek, Clierry-Valley creek, Adlquaiang or Charlotte creek, and Oaks 
creek, the outlet of Schuyler's Luke. Otsego Luke, discharges the proper Sus- 
quehanna, at the Village of Otsego or Cooperstoiv7i. 

The agriculture of Otsego County is productive and respectable ; nor is the pre- 
sent rage for manufactui-es, wholly in-operative here. The \ihole number of taxable 
inhabitants in 1810, was 57 JO ; and the taxable property, as valued on the Super- 
visors' books. Amounted to g3,277,143. The soil of this county is of various kinds 
and qualities ; tjut a large portion of it constitutes a rich fainnng medium, though 
rather better adapted for grass than grain. The inhabitants arc principally far- 
mers, and clothed in the products of household industry. Otsego ] ilUige or Coop- 
erstown, the capital of this county, is delightfully situated at the S. end of Otsego 



* Or Cooper' S'Toivn V. and I^ost-OJice. 



GENERAL TIEW OF COTNTIFS. 95 

Lake, on the Great Western Turnpike, 66 miles nearly W. from Albany, Lat. 42'' 
42', 58' W. Lon. from New-York. It contains 600 inhabitants, 110 houses and 
stores, 2 elegant Churches, the county buildings, &c. The lofty elevation of this 
county, its salubrious air and rich and wholesome pasturage, have given to its 
butter a high character in the marjcet towns.— Otsego sends 4 Members to the 
House of Assembly. 



QUEENS COUNTY. 

Queeiie County, on Nassau or Long-lsland, is of the same date as Kings County, 
which see. It is situated near the W. end of Long-Island, nearly opposite the City 
of New-York ; -being bounded Northerly by East river and L. Island Sound, E. by 
Suffolk County, Southerly by the Atlantic Ocean, W. by Kings County. The area 
may be about 355j square miles, or 227,520 acres. The gi-eatest width of the Isl- 
and here, from extreme to extreme points of land, is 22 miles ; the nearest approx- 
imation of water fi-om opposite sides, 5^ miles. Situated between 40" 34' and 40' 
55' N. Latitude ; 04' E. and 36' E. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGEAPHIC-\L AND STATISTICAL TABLE. CENSUS, &c. 1810. 
Towns . P. Offic Poptil. S. Elec. Remarks. 

Flushing, 2730 — 136 Flushing V., Monumental Oaks. 15m.E.fr.N. Y. 

'Hempstead, P.O.— 5804 — 445 Hemp. V., Merricks',* Rockaway, 22 m. fr. N. Y.- 

Jamaica, P.O. — 2110 — 219 Jamaica V-, J. Bay, Duryea's, — 14 m. fr. N. York. 

Newtown, 2437—248 Newtown V., N. Landing. 8 m. E. fi\ N. York. 

Ni)n.Tu-HEMP8TEAD,p.o.— 2750— 211 Q. Cour/ /f, Cow-Neck, Plandome, Mitch. Lt. H. 
Oyster-Bay, r.o.1-4725— 332 0. Bay V., Jericho p.o., Lloyd's Neck. 25 m. E. f. 

— [New- York. 

5 19336-1581 

The County of Queens has little remarkable for gener.al description, .according to 
Tny plan of Summary Notice, but furnishes much for minute detail, in its Topogra- 
phy, which see. The soil is considerably diversified, and an elevated tract of san- 
dy plain pervades the whole Harbor-Hill, the highest land on the Island, is in N. 
liempstead, and presents a summit of 405 feet altitude above high water mark. 
It is the first land discovered by mariners approaching Sandy Hook from ihe East- 
ward. Its bays, inlets, coves, &c., Stc, are very niunei-ous, and supply many tide- 
mills for making flour, of high celebrity in the market of New-York. Clinton bay, 
is the line toward Kings Caunty, on which is C. harbor; and Flushing bay and har- 
bor, Little Neck bay. Cow bay. Hemps lead bay and harbor, Oyster bay and harbor, 
and Cold Spring bay and harbor, are on the N. side of Qacens County, the last of 
which forms the bound.ary toward Surtblk County. Hurl-Gate, is in B. river, be- 
tween the counties of New- York and Queens. On the S., or atlantic side of Long- 
Island, Jamaica Bay, R(jckaway neck, Cornell's beach, Rockaway bay and beach. 
Hog Island, Parsonage, Merrick's and Jerusalem bay. See Plandome, Sands' Point, 
and Hempstead Plains. 

Along the N. shore, the tide rises from 6 to 7 feet 8 inches, though the latter only 
occurs in Cow bay, where the oceanic currents ai-e impeded by islands and the nar- 
rowing of the Sound, .,s well as by its zig-zag course. A Light House was erecttjd 
in this county by the General Government in 18o9, ai, Suuds' Point, the northern 
extremity of Cow-Neck. 

The agricuitui-e of this County is very respectable, as is its Yeomamy ; but a 
very great error of judgment has carried the county buildings to an unfortunate 
position, on the borders of Hempstead Plains. The Court-House is in N. Hemp- 
.stead, 4 miles N. W. of Hempstead Village, lO S. of the Light House, and 9 East 
of Jamaica. The location of this building is an admirable comment on the too 
common adherence to a geographical centre, regardless of those of population and 
of general convenience. The history of Queens County is very interesting to the 
minute enquirer j and it deserves notice that this is one of the 4 counties m v/hich 



Thin PQst-0£ke discontinued in 1811. 



96 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



the Episcopal church was established by law, prior to the late Revolution : the 
other 3 wei-e New- York, Richmond and Westchester. 

In 1731, the population of Queens County was 7995; in 1771, 10,980 ; in 1786, 
13,084 ; in 1790, 16,440 ; in 1800, 16,893 ; and in 1810, 19,336. !• has been repre- 
sented in all the Lej.';islative Assemblies of this Colony and State, since 1691 ; but 
it was not represented in the Pxovincial Convention, nor in the Continental Con- 
gress which met at Fhiladeiplila, in May 1775 ; a majority of the inhabitants con- 
tinuing loyal to Great-Britain. A copy of tlie Duke's Laws, wliich were enacted in 
this county, is still pres^tved in the Town Clerk's office of N. Hempstead, in M.S., 
with the original signatures. The Council which enacted these lav.s sat at Hemp- 
stead; and the Legislature which convened in 1701', held its session at Jamaica. — 
The Quakers, who erect no monuments to the memory of tiie dead, nor to perpetu- 
ate the memory of any event, regard with lively interest some ancient oak's, yet 
living, in the Town of Flushing, under whc-^e sliade George Fox, the venerable 
Apostle of that sect preached to his followers hi the year 167i. 'Ihe civil divisions 
of this county have undergone no material aUeratiun since 1788, and there has been 
no increase of the number of towns. Queens County sends 3 Members to the House 
of Assembly, 

RENSSELAER COl/NTY. 

Rensselaer County f on the E. side of the Hudson, opposite Albany, was erected 
from Albany Co. in 1791, with its present limits. Cambridge and Easton, hitherto 
in Albany Co., were then attached to Washington Co., and Rensselaer thus restrict- 
ed the limits of Albany to the W. side of the Hudson. It i?, almost superfluous to 
add, that the new county received its name from tlie Rensselaer family, the princi- 
pal part of which is within their Patent. It is bounded N. by Washington Co., E/ 
by "Vermont and Massachusetts, S. by Columbia Co., W. by the channel of the Hud- 
son, or by the Counties of Saratoga and Albany. The area may be about 572^1 square 
miles, or 366,240 acres. Situated between 42" 26' and 42" 55' N. Latitude ; 14' 
E. and 44 ' E. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810. 

Towns. P.Offic. Popul. S. Elec. Remarks. 

Berlin, 3012—326 Rensselaer V. &, Glass Works, 34 h., 12 m. E. fr. A. 

Brunswick, 230.— 253 12 m. N. E. from Albanv, 5 E. of Trov-Erec. in 1807. 

Grafton, 1410—134 17 m. N. E. fr. Albany, 11 E. of Troy— Erec. in 1807. 

Greenbush, 4458 — 478 Opposite A. Greenb. V. &. ferry ; Bath V., 1 m. fr. A. 

Hoosac, P.O. — 3117 — 401 Hoosac Falls V., 30 h., mills, 8ic. ; Four Corners V. 

Lansingburgh, p-o. — 1658 — 143 Lansingb. V., inc., 294 h. & s., 3 m.fr. Troy, 9 fr. A. 

Nassau, 1.* — 2501 — 271 Union V., inc., SOh.Scs., r.o., 12m.E. of Albany. 

Petersburgh, 2039—163 Rensselaer's Mills V., 95 m. N.E. of A. Bald mount. 

Pittstown, P.O. 1-3692— 367 Pittstown V., 21 m. ; Torahanoc Y., p.o., 18 m f. A. 

Schaghticoke, r.o.- 249>'— 229 Schaght. Point, 20 m.fr. A. ; Speiglc Town, 11 fr. A. 

Schodac, 3166—287 Schodac Landing, 9 ni. S. of A. ; Castleton, 8 do. 

Stepheatown, 2567—257 22 m. S. E of Albany— S. E. corner of the County. 

Thoy, P.O.— 3895— 334 'iVo?/ V., inc-j 660 1). & s., 5 churches, 2 banks. 6 m. 

[N. of Albany. 

7-36309-3643 ^ 

The County of Rensselaer has a very great diversity of soil, and of surface.— 

The eastern part is considerably hilly, in some parts mountitinous, though not of 

the loftiest grade of summits or continuous ridges ; while the general character 
is broken and hilly. But where the hills aspire most to tlie mountain character, 
the valiics are extensive ; and the alluvial rtats are of considerable extent, present- 
ing a soil deep, warm and fertile. There are large tracts of sand, of gravel, some 
clay and argillaceous loam — and tracts of vv^et uplands covered with a luxuriant 
growth of lofty white-pine, variously intermixed witli hendock, maple, ash, cherry, 
beech and birch ; forming a most singular admixture of evergreen and deciduous 
trees. And the skilful Farmer finds all the varieties of soil which these contrari- 
•eties of forest vegetation would seem to indicate. 

■^ JWismii Post-Of/ce diacov.tinvcd in 1811. 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 97 

This county embraces the E. half of the Hudson, with the head of sloop navjga- 
■ ion, winch is naturally at Troy. The small streams that supply abundance of 
mill-seats, are well spread over the county. Hoosac creek, the lars^cst, enters the 
E. bank of the Hudson, near the northern extremity of the county, after a very de- 
vious course, and having" received several other creeks. 'i"!ic main branch rises in 
M.issach'.isttts, crosses tlic S. W. coriwr of Vermont into Rensselaer Co., receives 
Littie Moosac creek, and bearing- nortli, receives Walloomscoic creek just as it 
crosses mto Washing'ton Co. ; tlien turns S. W. into Rensselaer, and receives Tom- 
hanoc cx-eek near its mouth. The Poesten-kill or cveek, which enters the Hudso" 
neur Troy, waters the central part, and affords many line mill-seats. Wynant'; 
Tierken and M)ordenar's creeks. He further S. ; and the S. castei-a part sends soin 
small waters into Columbia County, wiiich see. Tiie falls of the Poesten-kill ai 
entitled to eminent notice, as viell for their gi-eat heigiit and interesting" scener 
as for their contig-uity to the Hudson, and the populous and flourishing- Villag< 
on its shores. In 1800, tiie population was 30442. 

The whole of ihis county, except the 3 Northern Towns, Schaghtlcoke, Pitt^- 
town and Hoosac, is compi-jsed within the extensive Patent of tlie Honorable St-^- 
phen Van Rensselaer, as is Albany County also. This county had partial settj 
n^ents at a very e:.rlv period of our history, and has long- sustained a considerable f. 
puh.tion. The taxable properly of Rensselaer Co., agreeable to the Supervisors' boo! 
for 1810, amounted to S4,.3r4,890, more than half of which is personal properi 

The Manufiictures are sliev/n in the General Summary, page 49 ; and the pop 
lation of the several Villages, in the County Table ; and more particularly in tlie 
Topography of Town.s. Troy, the capital, is finely sealed on the E. bankof tl;,- 
Hudson, at the head of the tides, 166 miles N. of New-York, 6 N. of Alban<-, a>i.i 
:56 N. of Hudson. Its situation is peculiarly elegant, on a gravelly plain, sufliciei ' 
ly elevated ; and has probably the Ijest site and town plat of any Village or City i» 
the Hudson, as respects elegance, cleanliness, and health. — Rensselaer County sen 
4 Members to the House of Assembly. 

RICHMONiJ COUNTY. 

Richmond County, is formed of Staten-Tsland, situated below the Bay of New- 
York, and is the southern exti-emity of the State. Its date is ancient, having been 
rcjiresented by 2 Members in the first Colonial Legislature, in 1691 ; and it has al- 
v.'ays constitvited one county to this time. The centre of Statcn-Island is about H 
miles S. W. of New-York : its length is about 14 miles ; greatest width, 8 miles. 
The area may be about 77 square miles, or 49,280 acres. Bounded on the N. and 
W. by Newark bay and Brunswick river, E. and S. by Hudson river and the Atlan- 
tic Ocean. Its southern extremity, is m N. Latitude 40° .^9'; the Western extre- 
mity, 16' W Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &.c. of 1810- 
Towns. Popul. Sen. !• lec. Remarks. 

Castletown, lo/l 121 Quarantine Ground, Clove Hills, Watering Place. 

Northfield, 1595 152 Shooter's Island, Elizabeth town Ferry. [i5h.,C.H., 8cc. 

SocTUFtULD, lOOr -97 Eort Richmond, the Narrows, Signal-Hill, Richmond V 

Westfield, 1444 139 Westfield, Prince's Bay, Indian Hill, Fresh-kills. 

5347 509 

The County of Richmond is considerably hilly and bi*pken, though there are some 
tracts of good arable lands of considerable extent. Its insular situation, and 
the comfort it affords to mariners, together with some supposed peculiarities of 
habits and manners, give the Island a considerable celebrity, and its inhabitants 
enjoy many privileges. The waters that suri'ound the Island, abound with a great 
variety of fish ; and here is the Watering Place, near which the British had Forti- 
fications during the Revolutionary War. See Castletown. The Fortress called Fort 
Riclmiond, recently erected at the Narrows by the General Government, is in 
Southfield ; and the Quarantine Ground, for vessels entering the port of New-York, 
is also in this county. The agriculture, is in a pretty good style ; and for the ma- 
nufactures, see page 49. — Richmond sends 1 Me;nl)ev t« the House of Assembly. 



98 GAZEl^EKR OF NEW-YORK. 

~ ROCKLAND COUNTY. 

jRockland Conniy, xvas erected from Ornngp Co., February 23, 1798 ; and April 
5, 1798, the towns of New-Windsor, New-Burgh, Wallkill, Montgomery and Deer- 
Park, in Ulster, were attached to Orange Count}-. The form of Rockhmd Co. is 
triang-ular, having the Hudson for its base : Bounded N. Westerly by Orange Co., 
S. Westerly by the State of New-Jersey, R. by the Hudson, or Westchester Coun- 
ty. The area is 161 square miles, or 103,040 acres. Situated between 41" and 
41" 19' N. Latitude ; 08' B and 12' W. Longitude from New- York. 

TOPOGKAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810. 

Towns. P.Offic. Pop. S. llec. Remarks. 

Cl.uikstowx, r.c— ; 99ti— 212 ' J\''eto-Cittf V., at R. Court-H., 132 f A.; 38 fr. N.York. 
Hampstead,* 2. — 2313 — 178 Ramapo Works V., 60 h. p.o. ; Kakiat p.o. ; Dater's W. 
Haverstraw, p.o. — 1866—115 Warren V., Stony Pt., Old Fort Clinton, Dunderberg. 
Orangetown, 1.-1583—147 Tappan r.o., 142 m. fr. A., 28 fr. N.York ; Niak Hills. 

5 7758 652 

The County of Rockland, which comprises the extreme southern angle of thi^ 
State on the W. side of tjie Hudson, has a broken surface in general, and in some 
parts mountainous, from the elevated i-anges of the HigUand Mountains. But the 
vallies are of considerable extent, rich and fertile ; while a considerable portion of 
the hills is arable, and afibrds good pasturage. The streams, though not large, 
supply a vast profusion of mill-sites ; and the mountains, covered with wood, abound 
witl- excelLnt ores of Iron. Hackinsack and Passaic, rivers of New-Jeisey, receive 
some, waters from Rockland County. The Ramapo, a main branch of Passaic, rising 
in Orange, crosses the W. part of Rockland County, through the town of Hamp- 
stead, and supplies several extensive works there. There are some small ponds, 
most romatically situated on the mountains, abounding with fish for the angler. 
The Niak Hills, and the fine sand-stone tlicy yield in vast abundance, must not be 
forgotten. Its colour is a reddish brown, quarries well, and is wrought with great 
ease and facility. The Capitol, or Government House at Albany, is principally 
built of this stone, the cost of which building was 115,000 dollars. Thei-e are in 
Rockland County, 7 houses of Worship, 2 Academies, and a competent number of 
common Schools. Twelve bloomeries for making bar-iron ; 1 nail factory and roll- 
ing and slitting mill, owned by J. G. Peirson and Brothers, which yields about 
1,000,000 lbs. nails yearly ; a competent number of grain, saw and fulling-mills, 
and a vast scene of domestic manufacturing, principally in iron. The taxable pro- 
perty, as valued on the Supervisors' books for 1811, exceeds 1,000,000 dollars. — 
Dobbs' Ferry, Stony Point, and Fort Clinton, are well known positions in the His- 
■tory of the Revolutionary War ; as was the Pass in the southern part of the Rock- 
land hills, wliile the Bi-itish had possession of New-York, then strongly fortified 
and guarded. And in this opening are now Pierson's or Ramapo Works, a very ex- 
tensive establishment, on the turnpike stage road from Albany to New-Y'ork,— ^ 
Ilockiand County sends 1 Member to the House of Assembly. 

SARATOGA COUNTY. 

Saratoga County^ was erected in 1791, from Albany Co., being of the same date 
with Rensselaer County. It is situated on the W. side of he Hudson, above Alba- 
ny Co. ; and is bounded N. by Washington County, Easterly by the channel of the 

* My Correspondenis ivrite this Hampstead, although I find it named in the Laws, 
Hempstead : but us there is a Toivn of this name in Queens County, and also a J\'orth 
Hempstead, I am inclined to adopt the better orthography, co/n/ing the usage of well 
informed men, -who are old inhabitants of the Town, and some «/ its present oncers. 
Jn the original law erecting this town from a part of Hax^erstraw, it is called S\ew- 
Hampsiead ; and I fold it in other places, in a still different orthography. Such a 
singular confusion of names can hardly be found any where else, as occur in the many 
•uolwnes of the Laws of this State ; and the Jjegislatnre would do ■ifell to direct a re- 
■s:ii\il of ihescy at least as often as a revisal of the Laivs. 



0ENEK.\1. view of counties. 59 

""' ■ • . . ■ ■ . . i„ - 1 ■ ,. 

Hudson or by Washington and Rensselaer Counties, S. by Albany and Schenectady 
Counties, W. by Montgomery County. The area may be about 772 square miles, or 
494,080 acres. Situated between 42° 46' and 43" 23' N. Latitude ; 26' E. and 10» 
W. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGIiAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE, Census, &c. of 1810. 

Towns. P. Offic. Popu. S. Elec. Remarks. 

BALisToy, p.o.2-2155 — 273 Ballston Spa V., inc., llOh. r.o.; Saratoga C.H., p o, 

Charlton, P.O.— 1946— 227 25 m. fr. A. ; 8 S. W, from Balhton Spa. [28 m. f. A . 

Edinburgh, 1319—116 form'y.Northfield, 50m. f A., 22 S.W. of Caldwell. 

Galwav, P.O.— 2705— 282 31 miles from Albany, 8 W. from Ballston Spa. 

Greenfield, p.o.— 3087— 314 ION. of B. Spa, 36 fr. Alb. Kyadeross mountains. 

Hadlev, r-O- — 1725 — 122 51 m. fr. A,— Sacandagarlver, Jessup's Landinp-. 

Halfnioon, 1.— 5292— 592 Waterford V., inc., 190 h. p.o., 10 m. N. fr. Albany. 

Malta, 1438 — 158 Dunning-st., 25 m. N. of A. Saratoga 8c Round L. 

Milton, 2763 — 258 partofB. Spa V. & Springs. WooHen Factory. 

Moreau, 1347 83 part of Glenn's 8s, Bakcr'ti Falls. Powder Fact 

NorthumberlandjF.o.- 2041— 184 43 m. fr. A —Fort Miller U Falls. Nort. mou- an. 

Providence, 1694—136 35 m. fr. A., 33 N.W. fi-. Waterford. Sacar.r. -a If 

Saratoga, p.o.1-^3153 — 280 Sara, Springs p.o.; Rock S. V., 25 h.; Cong 

Stillwater, p.o.— 2492— 203 Stillwater V., ?cmas' Heights, Sarator . L 

12-33147-3229 

The County of Saratoga is washed on the li. by the Hudson an cxtcr Aio i, 
70 miles, following the meanderings of that river; on the S. by tb,» Mou:. ..-); ; bi t 
the tide is only very rarely perceivable at Waterford. The Sa nnd-aga, i. lar^e 
branch of the Jludson, crosses the Northern part of Saratoga Co Snook cn-ek; c- 
ters the Hudson in ]Moreau, as docs Fish creek in Saratoga ; and hop-'s, bet .\ 
Stillwater and Halfmoon, discharging the waters from Long ^ ^^ajces ob 

ponds.. Fish creek, is a considerable stream, discharging t' waters from Sarato- 
ga L. and Owl pond, the Kyadeross or Kyaderosseras creek, and several other 
branches, collected from tiie midland parts of the county. Kyadeross creek, ap- 
proaches within 1-2 mile of Ballston Spa, losing its name in Saratoga L., the outlet 
of which is called Fish creek, to tiie Hudson. On this stream, were some of the. 
temporary fortifications erected by General Bm-govnc in 1777 ; and at its mouth ou 
the upper side, the ground where his army pikd their arms, and suiTcndered a*: 
prisoners of war. The Aalplaats-kill, or Ecl-place-creek, is a small stream that 
rises in Gahvay, and runs through Charlton into Schenectady Co., to the Mohawk. — • 
These streams, every where so spread over the county, supply a profusion of fine 
sites for mills ; as do the Mohawk and the Hudson, at the Cahoos Falls, and tlie 
various rapids and fulls of the Hudson. At P'ort .Miller Falls, Baker's, and Glenn's, 
are vast conveniences for mills, with abundance of water at all times. The mills 
erected on these Falls furnish great quantities of lumber that descends the Hud- 
son in rafts. 

The soil of Saratog.a Co., is very similar in the southern part, to that of Albany 
Co., which see ; and the I'eology of that part, very nearly corresponds with that of 
Albany. The County of Saratoga, or certainly all that part lying S. of Greenfield, 
is undcrlaia by a soft blue fetid clay, at various depths — surmounted by slatestone, 
pr limestone, and in some places by flint. Tracts of sandy loam, resting on clay, 
or on 3toncs of slate or lime, are of great extent ; and a large portion of the south- 
ern half may be denominated a sandy plain, originally wooded with white, yellow 
and pitch pine. There are considerable ti-acts of pebbly gravel, and of gravell)' 
loam, but these are principally confined to the river hills of the Hudson ; while the 
alluvial flats of the Hudson in this county, are composed principally of clay or 
argillaceous mold. — The northern part is considerably hilly, and some part moim- 
tainous, interspersed with vallies of alluvion, or maslies and bogs yielding dvrarf 
shrubbery and sedge-grass. The agricultural products of this county are conside- 
rable, and much of the dairy and the market supplies of fresh meat, &c., is con- 
sumed at the watering places, during- the season of comjjany ihere. 'i'he Manufac- 
tures are shewn in the General Summary, page 49 ; and ihe Yeomanry, who consti- 
tute a lai-ge and respectable portion of the inhabitants, are principally clad in the 
products of household industry. The medicinal wat(?r3 of Saratoga, take a high 



loo GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOTiK. 

, / 

i/[' not the foremost rank, among- all those known to histoiy in any part of the 
world. The Springs are very numerous, and variously impregnated with mineral 
folutions. See IMinbrai. Watehs, page 24. They arc scattered over an extent of 
i.boiit 12 miles, and are destined at some future day to supply avast exportation 
of water to foreign countries. Situated about 43° N. Latitude, 10' E. Longitude 
from New-York ; distfint from that city 290 miles ; I'rom Albany 30 ; 10 miles W. 
of the Hudson, and 30 S. of Caldwell Villr.ge, at the S. end of Lake George. They 
are surrounded by a fine champaign country, but gently undulated, under tolera- 
ble cultivation, pleasant and health}-. And it is to be wislied that tiie plains around 
these Springs should remain farm-lands, instead of compact villages or cities, ex- 
cept of small extent : cn\mtry air and rural scenery are the more proper, as these 
places are tlie resort of people for health or pleasure, who have been principally 
accustomed to city air and town living. To such invalids, Hygeia prescribes in 
the open fields ; and pleasure dwells with a change of scenery, if not with variety. 
The memorable events of the IJevolutionary War, have marked the plains and 
bills of Saratoga, with a long-li^'ed, a proud celebrity of fame of martial atchieve- 
ment. Here were the toils and ariifices of M-ar, op]50sed b);- toil and artifice, 
till Burgoyne yielded ; — the pride and boast of British discipline, vv'ith a numerous 
and well appointed army, sunk under the American spirit ; — and gave to Gates and 
Atnerica a conquest, glorious as opportune. On the 5th of July, the Americans, 
reti-eating belbre this formidable army, evacuated the strong woiks at Ticondero- 
ga ; on the 19tli of August, gamed a small a vantage over a detachment of Bur- 
goyne's army near Bennington ; fought the battle of Stillwater, September 19 ; 
tliat of Saratoga, October 7, M'hen tlie Royal troops were defeated ; and on the 
17th of October, 17T7, Burgoyne with his whole army, suircndered to the Ameri; 
cans ! The little entrenchment, called Fort-llardy, the scene of this closing 
act of tne grand Drama, was on the bank of the Hudson, just at the mouth of Fish 
creek, near the stage road, and is still pointed out to every passing traveller, now 
barely vi''ible. — Saratoga sends 4 Members to the House of Assembly. 



SCHENECTADY CQUNtV. 

Scheiieclady County,* is but of recent date, though the settlement is ver}- ancient- 
It was erected from Albany County m 1809, and is but a small county in extent, 
though it contain the City of Schenectady. Bounded Northerly by Montgomery 
and Saratoga Counties, Easterly lay Saratoga and Albany Counties, Southerly by 
Albany, and Wcstwardlv by Schoharie County. The form is very irregular, and 
the area may be abo.ut 180 square miles, or 115,200 acres. Situated between 42*' 
43' and 42° 58' N. Latitude ; 09' E. and 20' W. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810. 
Towns. P.Oftic. Pop. S. Elec. ReiiiavUs. 

Duanesburgh, p.o. — 3052 253 23 m. N of W. fr. Alb. ; L. Mam, Prospect-Hill. 

Niskayima, 424 57 On the S. side Moliawk, 12 m. N. W. of Albanv. 

Princetown, 826 98 22 m. from Alb., 7 W. of Schenectady. 

ScuESECTADT, P.O.— 5903^ — 622 Schenectaclij Ci/ij ; compact part, 500'h. & s.. Union 

— [College, 4 churches, 14^ m. fr. A. 

2 10205 1030 

The County of Schenectady, has the Mohawk running across its northern part, 
and the other small streams are too inconsideral^le for notice here, except Aal- 
plaats creek, noticed under Saratoga County, ^vhich see. The Historic notices, 
will be referred to Schenectady City ; and tliere is little to invite summary detail. 
The soil, except the alluvial flats, and the more elevated and broken lands of Du- 

* Sc/ieneciachi, or Schcnectada, os pronounced by the Indians, sigjiifics ovcr-thc- 
lines : and loas first applied by them us the name for the place -u-here Jlhany no~u 
atands, since transferred to Schenectady. The connti-y bet-wcen these two places, is a 
x(f lily plain, thickly covereilrAth pine trees ; and mnains still a barren tract of pin-: 
plain. 



GENEIliU. VIEW OF COUNTIES. 101 



anesburgh, and some part of Princetovvn, is similar to the upland, sandy plains of 
Albany County, which see. Duanesbui-gh is more loamy, and the tracts of allu- 
vion are extensive and very rich along the Mohawk near Schenectady. Of the 
agriculture, no general character can be given ; and the Manufactures are shewn 
in the General Summary, page 49. The great turnpike to the Mohawk and the 
western countrv, leads from Albany to Schenectady, lij miles distant. And here 
is the portage between the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, occasioned by the rapidss 
and falls of the former below Schenectady. An elegant covered Bridge across 
the Mohawk, at this place, deserves eminent notice. It is 997 feet in length, 
and is one of the best efforts in this line, according to the expense and the ma- 
terials employed, of the celebrated Bridge Architect, T. Burr. See Schenectady 
City. 

Schenectady^ the capital of this County, and from which it takes its name. iS 
charmingly situated on the Mohawk flats on the margin of that river, and contj .ns 
.ibout 500 houses and stores, the county buildings. Union College, which see, [:\i.[s^. 
44 ; 4 Cliurches, or houses for public worship, and a Bank. It is 14j miles N. W. 
of Alb.'^ny, and 15 S. W. of Bailston Springs. The inhabitants are principal' 
Dutch, or their descendants, variously intermixed with emigrants from -' ■ i: • 
and the United States. — Schenectady County sends 2 Members to the H'-v-fc \.i 
Assembly. 



SCHOHx\RIE COUNTY. 

Schoharie County * was erected from Albany and Otsego Counti' i. in T," v It is 
situated about 34 miles ^V. of Albany ; and is bounded N. by Mt igomci- Co., E. 
by a small angle of Shenectady, and by Albany Co., Southei-ly ''> iJreene and De- 
lawai-e Counties, W. bv Otsego County-. The area may be aboiii "o.; square miles, 
or 361,600 acres. Situated between 42° 18 ' and 42" 10' N. 1 ti,-. ■ , 10'' W. and 
43 ' W. Longitude from Nev/-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810. 
ToMTis. P.Offic. Popul. S. Elec. Remarks. 

Blenheim, p.o. — 1319 132 47 miles S. of \V. from Albany. 

Broome, p.o, — 1942 147 Formerly Bristol, 38 mdes from Albany. 

Carlisle, p.o.— 1231 83 Erected in 1807; 40 miles from Albany. 

Cobleskill, 2494 '257 35 miles from Albany. 

Jeflerson, 1740 212 48 mdes S. of W. from Albany. 

Middleburgh, 3236 313 35 miles from Albany. Schoharie Flats. 

ScuoHAiiiE, p.o.1-3232 366 Schoharie V.,f 25 h.,'C. H. 32 m. fr. A. ; S. Bridge 

Shai-on, p.c— 3751 324 45 m. fr. A.-N.W. cor. of county. [V., 20 h., p o. 

6 18945 1704 

The County of Schoharie is situated 34 miles W. of Albany, embracing a tract 
of elevated and broken land, formed by the Catsbergs, or Catskill hills, and the 
Helderbergs. See Mountains, page 9. It has no larger streams than the Schoha- 
rie creek, which, rising in Greene County, runs centrally through Schoharie north- 
ward, seeking the Mohawk, which it enters in Montgomery County. Cobus, or 
Cobleskill, is a principal brancli of the Schoharie C. ; and Catskill rises amonp- the 
mountains in the S. Eastern part of this County. The rocks of Schoharie County 
are principally calcareous, and the hills abound witli precipices and natural ca- 
verns, common features of lime-stone countries. And the alluvion is of a peculiar- 
ly rich and fertile character, another common feature, being formed of vegetable 

* Schoharie, according to Brandt, is an Indian -word, signifying drift or floods 
■wood ; the creek of that name running at the foot of a sleep precipice for many miles, 
from -which it collected great quantities of luo'od. 

t This Village is somt-times, of late, called Summer-Ville, but had better retain its 
original name. 

n 



102 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



mold, variously intermixed vvith calcareous loam ; a soil of superior excellence, 
vvlici'ever found, \var)n, du'-able, and adapted to a great variety of products. -The 
alluvial flats are ver}' extensive alon.a: this creek ; and they have been settled more 
than 100 years, since first occupied by German and Dutch emigrants. These 
flats extend abo\it 26 miles, following the windings of the stream, :md are in many 
places a mile wide The calcareous stones abound with those impressions 
imputed to petrifaction of the shells of testaceous animals ; and which, in spite of 
popular prejudice, belong to a different order of stones. See Mineralogy, page 23. 
This coimty is pretty well watered with springs and small rivulets ; and the agri- 
culture, though not in the best style of improvement, is proverbially productive. 
The three southern towns, Broome, Blenheim, and Jeffi^rson, are principally set- 
tled by people from the Eastern Stales. The Manufactories are shewn in the Ge- 
neral Summary, page 49. 

The ancient inhabitants of this county suffered much from Indian hostility ; and 
during- the Revolutionary war, Schoharie was overrun and laid waste by the British 
and Indians under the connnand of Brandt, and of Johnson, the greater Savage of 
the two. — Aluch of the clothing worn in this county, is made in the family-way ; 
and many of the inhabitants are very rich- Scliuharie, the capital of the count}-, is 
fi.vfly situated on the Schoharie flats, where is a small Village of 25 houses, the 
Canity buildings, and 2 Churches. The Court-House is of stone, 3 stories high; 
aiid th^. houses have rather the appearance of a rich farming settlement, than of a 
Hiotley collection of taverns, shops and offices. — Schohai'ic County sends 2 Mem- 
bers to the House of Assembly. 



SENECA COUNTY. 

Seiieca Couniij, was erected from Cayuga Co. in 1804. It comprises the Western 
part of the Military Tract, formerly a part of Onondaga Coimty, which see; and is 
bounded N. on L. Ontario, or by the British Possessions in Canada, E. liy Cayuga 
Co., S. by Tioga Co., W. by Steuben and Ontario Counties. Comprising the tract 
between Cavuga and Seneca Lakes, it extends also to L. Ontario ; being in length 
N. and S., about 63 miles, with a medial width of 11 miles. The land area is 744 
.square miles, or 476,160 acres. Situated between 42" 11' and 43^ 21 'N. LatL- 
tude ; 2° 28 and 3" W. Longitude from New-Vork. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, Sec. of 1810. 

Towns. P.Offic. Popul. S, Elec. Remarks. 

Fayette, 1754 156 Formerly Washington. Scawas V., or Jefferson, 7 m. E, 

Hector, p.o. — 1653 85 190 m. from Albany ; 10 S. of Ovid. [of Geneva. 

Junius, p.o.1-2251 177 Galen Salt W., p.o. ; W. Cavuga, Sen. Falls. 182 m. f A. 

Ovid, p.o.— 4535 276 Ovid V., 205 m. fr. A. ; 22 E. of S. fr. Geneva. [Spring. 

Romulus, P.O. 1-2766 179 Lancaster V., p.o., 200 m. fr. A. ; Apple Town. Canoga 

Ulvsses, 2.-3250 242 Ithaca V.,40h.,r.o., 178 m.fr. A. ; Tremain V., p.o., 180 

Wolcott, 480 59 Port Bay on L. Ontario, St Salt S., 200 m. fr. A. [m. f. A. 

8 16609 1174 

The County of Seneca is situated about 186 miles Westward of Albany, on the 
great avenueto the Western Counties. The surface of this county is either quite 
level, or but gently undulated with hill and dale : though Hector and Ulysses, the 
two southern towns, are considerably hilly. The soil is principally a calcareous 
loam, or a well mixed vegetable mold ; and may be called a good medium, in ge- 
neral, for grain or g-rass. This county includes Port, Little Sodus, and Enst bays, 
and a part of Great Sodus bay, on L. 'Ontario ; with the hidf of Cayuga and Seneca 
Lakes. Seneca and Canandaigua creeks, the outlets of the Lakes of the same 
name, cross Seneca County, miming Eastward ; and there are many small stream- 
lets, too inconsiderable for general notice, except indeed Fall creek, which en- 
ters the S. end of Cayuga Luke. But there are some otliers that aflbrd sites for 
mills, and the Seneca 'river has fine falls, on which are erected MjTiderse's Mills 
and others. Canoga Spring, in Romulus, aflbrds wuler and turns a saw and grist- 
mill, erected within a. fc-\i''rods of the Spring. The advar-tages for navigation, are 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 103 



seen by inspection of the Map ; and there are some turnpikes, with abundance of 
common roads thoug-h subject to a too common error in location. It can but rai*ely 
happen that roads should follow the right-lines that bound surveys. 

A turnpike from Ithaca at the head of Cayug-a Lake, to Geneva, passes Ovid Vil- 
lag-e, the capital of the county, which is on Lot No. 3, near the N. line of the town of 
Ovid. This Village is sometimes called Verona, but better Ovid, for obvious reasons. 
The titles to lands are good, with right of soil, and the inhabitants have a good 
character for industry, sobriety, and economy ; being principally Farmers. IMuch 
of the clothing is produced from household industry, and the style of agriculture 
is very respectable. Tlie first settlements commenced in 1788, by a few solitary 
individuals ; and the population is now composed of emigTants from the Eastern 
States, from Pennsylvania, and from Grcat-lJritain. For the Manufactures, .see 
page 49. Seneca County has some Salt Springs and Salt Works ; sec Jiinlns. — 
There are 25 grain, 42 saw-mills, and 26 whiskey-mills, or grain distilleries, per- 
nicious establishments, however profitable to a fc\\' or convenient for some other? 
Wolcott, on the N., is comparatively wild, erected in 1810 ; .and the principal po- 
pulation is on tlie midland and southern parts. — Seneca County sends one Alember 
to the House of Assembly. 



STEUBEN COUNTY, 

Sfeziben County, was erected from the S. part of Ontario, in 1796, an-l named in 
honor of Baron Steuben, an officer In the Revolutionary Arm.-. -. hk f'irn» ii; v.-ry 
regular, being about 40 miles square ; and is bounded N. by Ontar;'. f ounty- K. by 
the southern part of Seneca Co., or by Seneca Lake, anrl liv Tiog-a Go ; S. Ly the 
state of Pennsvlvania, W. bv Allegany County. The nei- •- 1''I1 sqi;:.;" miles, or 
3,050,240 acres. Situated between 42' and'42° 36 ' K Latitude ; 2" 51' and 3'^ 
50' W. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810. 
Towns. P.OfRc. Povul. S Elec, Reinavks. 

Addison, 369—28 foniicrly Middletown, i5m. S. of Bath, 15 W. P. Post. 

Bath, P.O.— 1036— 97 Bath V., 50 h. & s. 245 miles W. of Albany. 

Canisteo, p.o.l— 656— 45 Ark-Port, r.o., 25 m. W. of Bath, 265 of Albany. 

Dansville, r.o. — -666 — 13 Dansville V., 35 m. N.W. of Bath, 32 S.W. Canand'ga. 

Painted-Post, p.o.2 — 954 — 71 Lindsley Town, r.o., 20 m. S.E.Batli ; Campbells, r.o. 
Pultency, .po.— 1038— 97 E. & W.'Pulteney Societies, 24 ra . S. of Canandaigua. 

Reading, 1210 — 32 formerly part of Cayuga Co., 23 in. N.E. of Bath. 

Troupsburgh, 292 — 36 Erected in 1808, from Addison and Canisteo. 

AVayne, 1-1025 — 57 Roscommon, f.o. — 15 m. E. of Bath, 35 S. of Geneva. 

9 7246 443 

The County of Steuben is situated 180 miles on a right line, a little S. of W. fi-om 
Albany ; and 203 N. W. from New-York. The Tio^^-a river, or the main Western 
branch of the Susquehanna, (which runs across Pennsylvania into Marylanu, where 
it enters Chesapeak bay,) receives its principal waters from this county. And it 
were better that the name of Tioga had been ajjplied to the Conhocton, which runs 
diagonally across Steuben, nearly central, and receives several considerable bi'anch- 
C'S. The Canisteo, Canawisqua, and Caiieadea, ai'e considerable slveams, deep, 
sluggish and boatable. JMud Lake, in Wayne, (near Crooked Lake, principally in 
Steuben Co., but which discharges northward,) discharges Jlfvd Creel; scuthvrurd, 
boatable to the Conhocton, And there are several other small s'a-eanis that ex- 
lerid the navigation from every part dowM the Tioga, and supply abundance of miU 
sites. The surface of Steuben is considerably broken and hilly if not mountainous. 
Along the rivers, the general aspect of the country is uninviting, except that Ihe 
alluvial flats arc in some parts very extensive and rich; the river hills are rocky, 
precipitous, and covered with twrgreens, dreary and forbidding. But the upland 
plains have a rich variety of deciduous trccsj and extensive tracts of a rich and fer- 



104 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



tile soil, principally argillaceous loam or a warm mold : presenting a pleasing con- 
trast to the agriculturalist, when compared with the gloomy dell that skirts his 
fields, through which wind the streams that convey his surplus products to a 
market. But these remarks apply to the general character ot' the Susquehanna 
waters in this state. This county, except the small town of Reading, on the W. 
shore of the Seneca Lake, was included in the extensive cession of New-York to 
Massachusetts, and is principally peopled by Ru-mers from the Eastern States. 
Several Townsliips were purchased by individuals, who, in the laudable zeal of 
enterprize have settled on their landf, and thus led tlie way instead of pointing- i*-, 
in changing the forest to cultivated fields. A very good character is given the 
Inhabitants by my Correspondents : It is worth oidy that gives to worth its 
meed of praise. The Savage butclieries at Wyoming, a fine settlement in Pennsyl- 
rania, and its complete destruction in 1778, will long be remembered; and Steuben 
County still marks the track of the invading foe, while the ancient man shewetli 
the stumps of trees from which the Canoes were taken, arid chilleth the soul with 
Jiorror at the tale of woe. The agriculture is in a pretty good and improving style, 
though the country is but newly settled in general :— for IManufactures, see the Ge- 
neral Nummary, page 49. The Eastern people have brought hither their habits of 
hou=ei. ' industry, from which the clothing is principally produced. 

Bath, I apital, is finely seated on the Conhocton, nearly central in the comity, 
rontains abo 50 houses and stores, and has a considerable and increasing trade. 
The mam posc- ute is from Painted-Post, by Bath 20 miles, Canistco 20, Ark-Port 
5, DansviUe 12, to Geneseo 18, and Avon in Ontario, 10 miles, weekh . This 
mail communicates by Ehinebeck, in Dutchess Count}-, through Ulster, Delaware, 
Bi'oome, Tioga, Stei fen, to Ontario. Tliere are other mails j one from Bath by 
Rosconmo.i, to Geneva.— Steuben County sends 1 Member to the House of As- 
gembly. , 



ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 

St. Ln-torence County, was erected March 3, 1802. It is bounded on tlie N. "\V. 
by the river St. Lawreyice, or the British Possessions in Canada ; E. b}^ Franklin 
County ; S. by Montgomery and Herkimer Counties ; S. W. by a small corner of 
Herkimer Co., and by Lewis and Jefi'erson Counties. Its extent on the Si. Law- 
rence, is 65 1-3 miles in a right line ; the E-. line is 61 miles ; the S. line 26 ; and 
the S. W. 43 miles : giving an area of about 2000 square miles. Situated between 
44" 03' and 45" N. Latitude ; 30' and 1° 50' W. Longitude from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810, 
Towns. Wlien Kiect. P. O. Popu. S. Elec. Remarks. 

OswEGATCHii;, 1802—1—1245—122 Offdenshirgh, p.o., 70 h. £c stores. 212 m. fr. Alb. 
Lisbon, 1802-r.o.— 820 — 91 Indian Village — of houses, uninhabited. 

Madrid, 1802-p.o.-1420 — 165 Hamilton, 25 houses. Columbus. 

Massena, 1802-p.o. — 955 — ^74 on the St. Lawrence, 40 miles below Ogden-sb. 

Canton, 1805-p.o.— 699— 113 Natural Canal. 18 m. S. E. of Ogdensbui-gh. 

Hopkinton, 1805-p.o, — 372 44 40 m. E. of Ogdcnsburgh. 

De Kalb, 1806-p.o.— 541 83 Coopers' Village. 

Potsdam, lS06-p.o. — 928—120 Potsdam, 15 houses, mills, he. Moravians. 

Stockholm, 1806-p.o.— 307 37 33 m. E. from Ogdensburgh. 

Eussell, 1807 394 37 County Arsenal. 

Louisville, 1810-p.o. Pop. with Massena. Kacketon, 30 m. from Ogdensb.. 

Gouvemeur, 1810—1 223 — v. Oswcgatchic. Cambi-ay, p.o. Morristown. 

11 7894 888 

The soil of the county of St. Lawrence is principally sand or loam, heavily wood- 
ed with maple, beech, ash, tilia or bass wood, butternut, elm, and groves of white 
and yellow pine, with some hemlock. No high mountainous country, and but a 
email part can be called hilly. It is well watered by small springs and streamlet^. 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. lOfT 



Washed on the N. W. by the St. Lawrence, an extent of 75 mrlcs, and penetrated 
by many nr.vig-able vivers — these facilities of navig-ation and intercourse indicate its 
future wealth and importance. Tliese rivers, too, abound with miil-sites, and are 
bordered by extensive alluvird flats of g-reat fertility. In the southern part are 
some small lakes ; and Black lake, near the S. "W. corner, is of considerable extent 
and importance ; as also Indian river, a water of this lake, which see. That part of 
this dounty which comprehends the 10 Townships, as desig'natcd on the large Alaps 
of the Surveyor-General and others, was sold by this state in 1786 ; but the 
military post of Osweg-atchie, was retained by the British till August, 1796. See 
Oswegatchie, Ogdensburgh and Lisbon, for some historic notices of former works. 
A regiment of militia is organized, and some Cadet companies are forming. An 
Arsenal is erected in Russell, for public stores, at the expense of the state. Og- 
de>'.sl)?irg-fi, the county capital, is a thriving, busy place, of considerable trade. — 
Ro.-ds have been opened in every direction ; and in many instances through exten- 
sive forests, at a great expense. Beside the rivers above mentioned, there are ma- 
ny smaller ones, all of which are well stored with fish, a great relief to the want* 
of the early inhabitants. Until about tjie year 1800, the dread of British and In- 
dian aggression, retarded the population; but since that time, the increase has 
been very rapid. Nor was the Embargo inefficient in producing a great jij/f. a ct\ 
wealth and poi")ulation. The Natural Canal, in Canton, is a r—e curi^ .'j ; :unl. 
there are many small i-eraains of those ancient works, mounds, inclos.' a^, he, -it- 
tributed to Indian hostilities, which abovmd throughout the Unite, states. — St., 
Lawrence Comity sends 1 Member to the House of Assembly. 

SUFFOLK COUNTY. 

Sifjolk County, comprises all that part of Nassau or Lonj i land, lying . ,is.Tt-ard 
of Q 'eens county. Its date is ancient, being the same as tha o. Kinjs aitd iens 
Couiiues, whici) see. In the first Legislative Assembly of the Co'i^nv " . .; n,et 
at New-York in 1691, Suffolk had 2 Delegates; and it'has consati •■ n .,.ie county 
to this time. It is bounded Nortiierly by Long-Island Sound, E. and Sontlierly by 
tlie Atlantic Ocean, W. by Queens County. Fisher's Island lies further N. and E., 
attached to Southold, which see, and there are many other islands. From the S. 
W. angle of Suilblk Co., to Montauk Point, the eastern extremity of Long-Island, 
is 83 miles ; t;ie greatest width of Suffolk Co., is on the W. line, where it is 20 1-2 
miies. The whole land area may be about 798 square miles, or 510,720 acres. Situ- 
ated between 4iJ° o5' and 41" 14' N. Latitude ; 32' E. and 2" 10' E. Longitude 
from Ne\v-Y'..rk. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810. 
TowTis. p. Offices. Popula. S. Elec. Remarks, Villajjes, &e. 

CSetauketV. P.O., Stonv Brook P.O., Middletown P.O., 
Brookhaven, p. 0.8-4176— 380 < Patchogue p.o., Firelplace p.o.. Forge p.o., Drow- 

Cned Meadow p.o., Moriches p.o., 70 m. fr. N. York. 
Easthampton, p.o.— 1484-191 5'Easthampton Y., Montauk, !VIontauk-Point,Liglit- 

C House, Gardiner's Island. 

Huntington, p,o.2-4424— 462 S^H. Village, Babylon p.o. and V., or Huntington 

C South, Dixliill's P.O., Cow Harbor, the Hook. 
Islip^ P.O.— -885 60 y P^^'^ o* Ronconcoma Pond, Cap-tree, Grass, Oak, 

C and Fire-Islands. 

RiYERnEAD, P. 0.-1711-216 S^ii^ejhead V., or S. C. House, 77 m. E. of N.York, 

C 23/ m. trom Albany, via N. Y.;— Wading river V. 
Shelter-Island, 329 29 ^ Shelter and Great Hog-Neck Islands ; 100 miles 

C N. of L. frorn New -York. 

Smith-Town, p.o.— 1592— 136 ^Branch V., River V., 53 miles from New- York. 

Southampton, p. 0.4-3899-475 ?S;ig;g-IIarbor V., 80 houses p.o., 266 m. from Alb. 

^ Bridge Hampton p.o., W. H. p.o., C.anoc -Place p.o. 
Southold, p.o.1-2613-306 PI'^"^^uc p.o., Oyster-Pond-Point V., Cutckogue" 

C_ Sterling-. 

23-21113-2255 



106 GAZETI^EER OF NEW-YORK. 

The County of Suffolk, very extensive and diversified, is not easily well describ- 
ed in a general view. Situated upon an Island, extensively and much indented by 
bays, its g'eneral geography can only be seen by inspection of a map ; and its more 
minute character, in the Topography of Towns, the descriptions of which are very 
ample. There are several large Islands formed by the Bays toward the eastern 
p;a t ; and Fisher's Island, though considerably remote, belonging to this state, is 
attached to Suffolk Comity. See Bats and Islands, page 15. The principal Bays 
are, Gi-eat B., in Huntington, forming JJoi/d's and Eaton^s jXecks ,- Dro-wned Mead' 
o-w B., in Brookhaven ; Great Peconic, or Peconic B., spreads westward from Gar- 
diner s B., the largest on the Island, near the E. end of Long-Island ; and Souihold 
Say, a more general appellation for the whole. Those on the S. side are smaller, of 
less importimce, though numerous. Shinacau B., was the ancient residence of a tribe 
of Indians called Shinacau, or Shinacoxigh ; avid there are many others, but of little 
importance. From many of these Bays, other small ones extend in arms, wliich 
have local names — and these form coves, points, heads, necks, &c., &c., almost in- 
numerable, a catalogue of which were as useless as uninteresting. The principal 
ones are noticed under the respective Towns. And the various other places, known 
bv local names, are too numerous for bare enumeration, except in a Topography of 
the County — but many of those called Villages, are too inconsiderable for general 
notice ; and however it might amuse with the singular confusion of odd names, the 
ii.st could serve no valuable purpose. Foi- a more particular description of the soil 
of Suffolk County, and its natural and agricultural products, see Long-Mand, Gar- 
(liner'.'i Island, Shelter Island, Phtmb Inland, Great-JIog-JVeck Island, liobins' Island, 

g^c. The land on the N. side, or next the Sound, is considerably broken and hilly, 

thou""!! the soil is better than in the interior, where there is more woody plains ; ^ 
on the S. sid'i more loamy and level. Deer still abound in the extensive forests of 
pine m th' -interior; and Long-Island is justly celebrated for the great variety of 
its 5V-ild-fowl and game for sj^ortsmen. There are some small creeks, oddly enough 
di!^nifie(l,with the name of River ; as Connecticut creek, which is 9 miles long", and 
P« conic creek, about 15 miles ; which with Mattatuc creek, and some other streams, 
supply a number of mills of various kinds. The taxable property, as valued on the 
Supervisors' books for 1810, amounts to S3,7'42,264. The agriculture is respecta- 
ble and the inhabitants, principally Farmers, deserve as high a character for pri- 
vate worth, as those of any portion of the United States. For the Manufactures, 
see the General Summary, page 49. Much of the clothing is manufactured in pri- 
vate families. Some salt is made also, by evaporation of sea- water. The large 
tracts of pine-plains supply a great proportion of the fuel annually consumed in 
New-York. The town of Brookhaven sends about 100,000 cords annually to that 
market. A considei-able foreign trade is carried on from Sag-g-Harbor, the Me- 
Irupol's of Suffolk, a Port of Entiy, finely situated on the S. side of the great Bay 
that extends far westward from Gardiner's Bay, or the Atlantic at the E. end of 
Ijong-Island. Mere are about 80 houses, an ''icademy, Meeting-IIouse, &c., on :i 
street 1 mile in length. Its sliipping is now principally employed in the whale-fish- 
ery. Biverhcad, the Capital of the County, is in the town of Riverhead, 77 mile.9 
•eastward of New-York, has the county buildings, a post-office, and a small collec- 
tion of houses. It is situated near the Peconic creek, 2 1-2 miles from the Buy into 
which that creek empties. — Ronconquaway, or RonconcomaPond, in this county, re- 
ceived its name from the Indians, which is said to mean Sandy Pond, being sur- 
i-ounded bv a fine sandy beach. Monta\ik-Point, the east end of the Island, used 
for grazing of domestic stock is peculiar as having no flies for their annoyance. 
The Light-House on this Point, was erected in 1796, by the United States, at an 
expense of 25,000 dollars, and is 100 feet high. 

Suffolk County was settled at an early period of our history; and a considerable 
part of its first inhabitants came from New-England. About 1640, Southold was 
thus settled; East-Hampton in 1649, by 30 families from Lynn, in Massachusetts. 
These settlements were originally attached to the Colony qf New-Haven ; but the 
rio-ors of its ecclesiastical court compelled the Long-Island colonists to secede, 
and proffer allegiance to New-York, v.hicli was accepted m 1674. And to the ex- 
eeiler.cies of the New-England character, tliese people have added other traits of 
vast importance. Such are their sobriety, temperance, industry, that the modern 



GENERAL VEIW OF COUNTIES. 107 

Yankees are pleased to trace an affinity of origin ; but in several towns of Suffolk 
Countj', suits at law are almost unknown, and peace and harmony prevail in an 
eminent degree. If discrimij\ation be at all allowable, it is but perfect Justice to 
say, that no where is there found more of domestic happiness or of plam Republi- 
can worth, than among the inhabitants of Long-Island. Suffolk County sends 3 
Members to the House of Assembly. 



SULLIVAN COUNTY. 

Sullivan Cojinty, was erected in March, 1809, from Ulster Count}', and received 
its name hi honor of General Sullivan, an Officer of the Revolutionary army. Its 
form is irregular, and the whole area may be computed at 622,000 acres.' It is 
bounded nortlierly by Delaware County ; easterly by Ulster Co. ; southerly by 
Orange Co. ; westerly by the Delaware river, or the State of Pennsylvania. Situat- 
ed between 41° 25' is^. and 42" N. Latitude ; 21 ' W. and 1° 08' W. Longitude from 
New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, 8i.c. of 1810- 

Tax. Property. Remaiks. 

TowTis. P.Offic. Pop. S. Klec. Real Personal. 

Bctliel, P.o.l — 737 30—207062—3849 Cochectonp.o.,60m. W.of Newburgh 

Liberty, 419 44—209806-3873 Erected in 1809. [120 fr. Albany' 

Lumberland, 525 16 98115—6979 The S.W. Town of the Count". 

Mamakating, 1—1865-147—170221-12846 Rloomingburgh,20h. Sis. -.b.,23»m. 
Navisink, 953—91—138705—6208 15m.N.of Monticcllo. [f:'Nnvhur"-Ii 

Rockland, 309 33—106739—1554 Ere. in 1809,fr.Navi3h)k. [i,akep%. 

Tuojirsos-, 2 — 1300 — 105 — 291370 — 3130 Monticello, 25 h. & stores, p.o. White- 

5 6108 466 

The County of Sullivan is situated 80 miles, on a right line, about S. W. from Al- 
bany ; and about the same distance N. W. from New-York ; and 41 miles W. of the 
Hudson. In 1810, of the above amount of ta.vablc property, making an aggregate of 
1,260,457 dollars in the county, only a small proportion was personal property ; while 
848,748 dollars of the real or fast estate, was holden by non-resident proprietors.— 
This County lies wholly within the Hardenbergh and Minisink Pa*e-'.j. it con- 
tains a pretty large proportion of mountainous country, though the vi \>. j rirul pjuuis 
are fertile and of such extent as to promise a respectable populatior. Cxcentinf 
the Delaware, which forms its v/estern boundaiy, the principal strt ms are the 
Navisink creek, running to the S, the Mongaup, Collakoon, Beaver-k'i, Williwc- 
mock. Ten-mile creek ; and Beaver and Iialf-way brooks. There are several small 
ponds or lakes, the principal of which are White lake. Black lake, and Great lake. 
or Lake Superior. The Newburgh and Cochecton turnpike extends across the 
County, a little S. of its centre. The Ulster and Orange, i'roiv. S. E. to N. W. and 
ci'osses the Navisink at the falls. 'I'he Navisink, rises in Ulster Co., enters Sul- 
livaii Co. after about 12 miles, and stretching southward meets the Etelaware near 
the intersection of the N. line of New-Jersey, after a compurative course of 55 
miles. Vox the last 7 miles, it ranges near ihe base of the Shawangimk mountains 
Thompson, the Capital, is 38 miles a little N. of W. from Newburgh on the Hudson - 
and 22 from the Delaware. There are many thriving settlements and small Vil- 
lages, for which see the Topography. Agreeable to the returns of the Census of 
1810, there are 1597 spimiing-wheels, 262 looms, 5832 sheep ; and 49,853 yards of 
clotli are annually produced from household industry. From Ne\vbur"-h en the; 
Hudson, the mail route is to ^lontgomery p.o. in Orange Co., 12 miles ; to Bloom- 
ingburgh p.o. in Sullivan, 11 1-2 miles ; to Monticello p.o., 14 l-2miies ; to Bethel 
or Cochecton r.o., at the Delaware river, 22 milos ; m all 6;, from Newburgh to 
Cochecton, on the Newburgh and Cochecton turnpikq. Ulstci", with SuUivau Coun- 
t \', sends 4 Members to thg House ol' Assembl}-. 



108 GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 

TIOGA COUNTY^ 

Tioga Covnty, was erected from Montgonnery Co., in 1791 ; and from the E. part 
of this County, the County of Broome was erected in 180''. It is situated 11.3 miles 
on a right-line, S. of W- from Albanj', 55 S. of Onondaga, and 1U7 about W. of 
Athens on the Hudson, embracing tlie waters of the Susquehanna. Bounded N. by 
a small angle of Steuben Co., and by Seneca and Cayuga Counties ; E. by Broome Co., 
S. by the State of Pennsylvania, W. by Steuben County. Its form is neurly that of a 
square 26 by 34 miles; the area 892-?- square miles, or 571,306 t'cves.- Situated 
between 42" and 42° 25' N. Latitude ; 2" 14' and 3" W. Longitude from New-York. 
TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &,c. of 1810. 

Towns. P. OffiC' Popul. S. Elec. Remaiks. 

Candor, Erec. in 1811, from Spencer ; pop. See. inc. with Spencer. 

Caroline, 1- SpeedsviJle I'.o., or Cantine's Scttlem. Same as Candor. 

Catharines, p.o. 836 40 200 miles fr. Albany, 18 m. N. of W. from Drakesville. 

Cayuta, Beers' Settlement. Town erected, &c. same as Candor. 

Chemung, p.o. 683—32 198 m. fr. Alb., 10 S. W. of Drakesville. Ch. Narrows. 

jjj^jiby 8 m. N W. of Drakesville. Townerec.&c. as Candor. 

Elmira p.o.1-2169— 165 Newtown V., or Elmira, p.o., 210 m. fr. A.; Big Flats p.o. 

Owego,' 1.--1083-— 65 Smithboro' r.o., 180 m. fr. Aib., 10 fr. Owego Village. 

Spencer, p.o. — 3128— 188 Drakesville, or Settlement, or Spencer V., 190 m. fr. A. 

7 7899 490 

The County of Tioga has the Sustjuehmina crossing its S. eastern part, and the 
Tioo-a the main W. branch of that i-iver, waters the S. western part, — approaching' 
each other in an elegant angle, and forming- their junction at Tioga Point or Athens, 
ft miles F. of the line of this State. Doth branches are boatable for those of 
8 or 10 tjns ; and the Oxveofo creek, which forms the eastern boundary ; the Cate- 
f-ant further W., and the Cayuta, nearly central N. to S., afford considerable faciU 
ities of transportation, and with many smaller streams, abundance of the best sites 
for mills. J\'eivtoiun creek enters Tioga R. at the Village of Newtown in Elmira, 
and Biitler's C, further S. E., as is IFynkoop's also; and the other small streams 
are very numerous. Tioga County sends some small waters into the heads of Se- 
neca and Cavuga Lakes, through L. Ontario :;nd the St. Lawrence, besides the above 
streams that, discharge southward. But Cataraugus and Chatauqua Counties, in this 
state, supply alike waters that seek the ocean through Lake Erie, passing the tre- 
mendous .. act of Niagara, through L. On t ario and tlie St. Lawrence, N. eastward ; 
as also S. wes. .vard through the Allegany, Oiiio, and Missisippi rivers ! Nor do they 
reach the Atlantic, till separated near 6000 miles, computing by the devious courses 
pursuvjd. From little s]n-ings, perhaps on the same farm, these streamlets issue in 
pursuit of a common object— and thus do they separate ! Such, too, is life ! And 
where is the Man who would not pride himself to cultivate the borders of these 
springs ? And another fact, so strikingly peculiar in Geography, deserves particu- 
lar notice. A tract of 20 miles square, may be so Irtcated in the western pan of 
this state, as to include waters of the Missisippi, Lake Erie, L. Ontario, widi the 
St. Lawrence, and the Susquehanna ; and that tract contain a large proportion of 
rich arable land, centrally embrachig the Genesee river, and perhaps including its 
falls of 60 and 90 feet. 

The surface of Tioga County is considerably broken and hilly, and some parts 
may pretty well aspire to the mountain character, thoiig'h the general descrip- 
tion falls far below that. See Steuben County, for some general observations on 
the soil and surface of the Susquehanna country, of which Tioga forms a part. 
This County is very rapidly increasing in population, and cont.nns a large i)ro- 
portion of good farming land. The agriculture is improving and productive. — 
For manufactures, see the General Summary, page 49. There are 26 grain and 
saw-mills in the town of Owego. Rafts, arks, and small boats descend the wa- 
ters of this County, and find the principal market at Baltimore, in the state of 
ZMarvland. The seat of justice, (as it is called,) has been lately removed from 
Newtown Village, in Elmira, to Spencer, in Driike's Settlement, or better Spen- 
cer V. where the county buildings arc erected. Tiiis place is on the Cayuta 
creek,'l9L» miles from Albiui}, aboui 60 a little S. of W. from Onondaga.— Tioga 
sends 1 ileiaber to the House of Assembly. 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. iOD 

ULSTER COUNTY. 

Ulster County, is of ancient date. This Countj- with Dutchess, liad two Dele.srates 
in the first Legislative AsseKibly of the Colony, which met at New-Yvirk in 1691." 
It was one of those formed by the General Organization Acts of 1788, and 1801 ; 
and has constituted one of the counties of the Colony and State of Now-York ever 
since 1691, though the boundaries have been altered : Several towns have been annex- 
ed to Orang-e County, and Sullivan Co. erected from the western part. Bounded 
Northerly by Delaware and Greene Counties, E. by the Hudson, or l)y Columbia 
and Dutchess Counties, S. by Orange, Westwardly by Sullivan County. The area 
may be 966 square miles, or 617,440 acres. Situated between 41'' 33 ' and 42° 10 ' 
N. Latitude ;' 06 ' E. and 47' W. Longitude from Nev/-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &,c. of 1810. 
Towns. P.Oflic. Popul.' S. Elec. Remarks. 

Esopus, 1026* 108 Erect. 1811, fr.Kingston ; 4m. S. of K.; Kosend-ile. 

Hurley, r.o.— ] 333 111 Hurley V., 18 h. 8c s., M.H., .">Tn. f K.; Bloomendalc. 

KixVGSTOx, P.O.— 2540 267 Kingston V., inc., 150 h. &s. 65 m. f. A., 100 f. N.Y. 

Marbletown, .'^363 340 Stoneridge, Shokan, Tangore, 10 m. W. of K. 

Marlborough, 1964 135 23 m. S. of K.; Marlboro', Quaker M. H. 

New-Paltz, P.O.— 3999 259 Paltz V., 20 li.; New-Pslt/. V., 80 m. fv. Albany. 

Plattekill, 1936 135 22 m. S. of Kingston; S. ofX.Kaltz, W. of Marlboro'. 

Rochester, 1882 149 Mombackus,.Shrnvanginik mountain, 14m.S.W.K. 

Raugerties, p.o. — 2194* 231 Erec. 1811, fr. K. ; Srui., Kaalsbaan ; 13 m. N. of K. 

Shandakan, p.o. — 1002- 54 15 m. W. Kingston ; N.W. corner of county. 

Shawangunk, r.o. — 3062 271 Shawangunk &. creek ; Pecon'!sink,2'5m.S.\y.ofK. 

Wawarsing, 1325 117 Wuwarsing, Napenagb,Lurenkill, Ho'ik falls. 

Woodstock, p,o. 950 68 14 m. N.W. of Kingston ; Glass and Iron Works- 

7 2^^576 2245 

The County of Ulster is considerably broken by the Castsbergs, or Caf;tskill moun- 
1.ains, which see page 9. The Shawangunk,! a principal ridge, liolds its course from 
•New-Jersey across the N.W. angle of Orange, into Ulster county; nor does tliis, 
with other ridges of the same range, lose its continuity, although only seen in irre- 
g-ular hills in tlie countr\f W. of Kingston. And in the northern towns, these again as- 
pire towards a loftier character, and rise in Greene County into the Catsberg-s before 
noticed. These ridges are at first 20 to 23 miles from the Hudson, f ..kOM-.j, .. 
in an angle of about 35'',as they decline in altitude, and receding in a, tuut th«* •soTn" 
angle as they rise again toward the north. The soil is of various q iitiefi, mii. 
cated by the extent and diversity of surface. The channel of the Hud 'i foriiw the 
eastern boundar}- of Ulster, and the small streams are very nun rue 

Wallkill, noticed under Orange County, enters Ulster from the S.W., and receiving 
Shaiuangunk creek, holds its course northward through Shawangunk, Paltz or ' 
New-Paltz, Hurley, where it i*eceivcs Handout kill or creek, and dividing Kingston 
from Esopus, enters the Hudson 3 miles E. of Kingston Villag'e. The Wallkill is 
20 rods wide, in Shawangunk. The Rondout rises in Sullivan County ; and ranging 
the E. side of Shawangunk mountain, curves with tliat eastward through V/awai's- 
ing, Rochester or Mombackus, and Marbletown, into Hurley, till the ridge subside 
into hills, and suffer it to meet Wallkill there, which rises on the E. of tliat ridge. 
Sliandakan, a large Township, in the N. W. ang'le of Ulster, sends some small waters 
into Delaware and some to Sullivan Counties; and Esopus creek rises here also, 
which winds through Marbletown, Hurley, Kingston and Saugerties, where it enters 
tlie Hudson, 11 miles N. of Kingston Village. Tiiere are many other small streams, 
as Saagh-kill, Platte-kiU, Gocd-bcrr, &c., but too inconsiderable for general notice, 
after tlie above copious details. I'he uplands are, in general, rich and productive ; 
and the flats along the above streams are vci-y extensive, with considerable tracts 
of recent and rich alluvion, though interspersed with clay and argillaceous mold. 

* These Towns have been erected from Jungslov, since the Census 'jf 1810 ,■ but mfj 
Correspondents have fitrnished their popul ation^ and I have computed the JVo. of Senato- 
rial Electors, on the ratio of populatioii and Electors. 

•j- For the Etijmoh^'y of this nanif;, sec the Toxvn or To';vnship. 

15 



110 GAZETTEER OE NEW-YORK. 

The agriculture of this Cotintj^ though it yield a large gross amount of products, 
IS inferior to that of Dutchess, on the opposite side of the Hudson. The Manufac- 
tures are principally shewn in the General Summary, page 49 ; see also Mi xehai.o- 
GY, page 23. I'iie marble of this county is of superior fineness, but very bard, — 
The E^opus mill-stones, have as high as Vv'idelv extended reputation ; and a st<.ne is 
found in vast abundance in the Shawangunk mountains of this county, which pinvea 
little if any inferior to that imported for the Burr mill-stones. It is the arid quartz 
of the' European Mineralogists; and promises to become an important article for 
exDoi-tation. Lime-sl0!'C, slate, marie, and iron-ore, are foimd in great abundance j 
and lead, native alum, pUuiibago, coal, peat, and a variety of pigments, have been 
found. There arc 13 Congregations and Houses of ^^'orship belonging to the Dutch 
Reformed, and several Quaker and Methodist Meeting Houses : and Kingston has 
a flourishing Academy. There is m.uch of hereditary succession among- the Farm- 
ers of this county, and of farming wealth. A large })ro]3ortion of the houses are of 
a blue lim.e-stone, abund:.nt here, and which is quarried and shaped with great case. 

The early inhabitants of this County, were German an.d Dtitch families ; and it 
U'as settled at a very early period of our history. In IGS'.^, Kingston had a settled 
Minister; and the County records commence about that time. This was one of the 
earliest of the Dutch settlements in this State. In 1686-7, a Dutch colony estab- 
lished itself in Shawangunk, 25 miles S. W. of Kingston ; and it is worthy of re- 
mtirk, th.at these lands are now in the lineal possession of the 3d generation. In 
17hj, some German f.imilles arrived from the Palatuiate of Hesse Cassel, noticed 
imder Manners and Cus'onis, page 34. Nor m.ust we omit to notice the burning of 
Kingslon or Esopus, in 1777, by the British Fleet under Vaughan, and tlie sufier- 
inr'-s^of the inhabitants during the Revolutionary contest for Independence.* 

Kingston, tl)e capital of Ulster County, is delightfully situated between Esopus 
and Wall creeks, 3 miles from the Hudson, lOU miles N. of New-York, and 65 S. of 
Albany. It contains now about 150 houses and stores, the county buildings, an 
E.cadeinv, church, he. Many of the houses are of stone. — Ulster, with Sullivan 
County," scuds 4 Members to the House of Assembly. 



WASHINGTON COUNTY. 

HVcuiltington ConvAv, received its present name in 1784, in honor of George Wash- 
ington; having before been called Charlotte County, when it also included a part 
of the present' State of Vermont. And this county was one of those organized by 
the general acts of organization in 1788, and 1801. It is bomided N. by Essex 
Countv, E. bv the Stave of Vermont, S. by IJensselaer and Saratoga Counties, W. 
by Saratoga and Montgomery. Its foi-m is iircgular ; and it will probably be di- 
vidcd within a few years into two counties : greatest length X. and S., 59 miles ; 
greatest width, 45 niiles. The area may be about 1612 square miles, or 1,031,680 
atres, inchuling the waters. Situated between 42" 55' and 43" 48' N. Latitude j 
45' E. and 13 'W. Longitude I'rom New-York. 

TOPOGKAriilCAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census^ Sic. of ISIO. 
Towns. P. Offices. Topii. S, FKc. Uiiiiaiks, Villages, &«. 

Ar£?-yle, r.o,-2 — 3813—386 Fort-Edwaixl V., 20 h., r.«. ; Fort Miller V., p.o. 

l3olton, 726 30 N.V/. Bay, 8<. Narrows, 14. miles fr. Caldwell, 76 fr. A. 

Caklwe'il, p-o.- — 560 — ()3 Old forts Wm. Henry & George ; Cald. V., 62m. f. A. 

Cambridge, r.o.— 6730 — 650 41 m N.E. of .\. ; Walloomscoic ; Lidie White neck. 
I'iiester, r.o. — 937—120 90m.fr. A. ; liockbridge ; Quaker M.H.; erec. 1799. 

Kaslon, ''•«•' — 32j3~2?]1 Clotton factory ; Quaker M.H. ; 22 to 35 m. from Alb. 

Fort-Anne, r.o.— 3100— 198 Fort-Anne V.", 40 h., 60 m. fr. A., 11 S. of Whitehall. 
Granville, r.o. 1-3717— 368 Fair Vale r.o., or N. (.^ranv. 60vn.fr. A.; S. Granville \. 
<;reenwich, r.o.— 2752 — 2 iO Union V., inc., 48 h. and s., 34 m. fr. A . ; Cotton fact. 

Hague, 393 21 On tlie W\ shore of L. George, 22 m. N. of Caldwell. 

Hampton, 8 JO — 50 At the >. . end of the northern turnp., 70 m. N.E. of A . 

* .//?i</ ihe q-euermcs co:uli.'ct o» that occasion, of liohei't li. LiviUffstai, Esquire. Iru 
€?hai'a'U'jr, himsr'fa greal suj'irer, ik.vcncs fioiwraOle rfimsmbranve. 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 1^ 



Hartford, P.O.— 2389 ~ 269 E. Village, W. Village, 53fr. A.; 8m.E. ofSanily-Hill. 

Hebron, p.o.— 2436 — 258 On the no. turnpike, 52 m.N.E. of A., 8 N. of Salem. 

Johnsburgh, 651 82 23 m. N.W. of Caldwell, 90 miles from A. [Falls. 

Kr A-GsiiuHY, 1—2272—225 Sandy-Ihll V., inc., 60 b. & s., i-.o., L-2 m . fr. A.; Baker's 

Luzerne, 1015 — 85 7m. S.W. of Caldwell, 10 fr. S. Hill ; fmm. Fairfield. 

Putnam, 499—19 Between L. George and Clianiplain, 20m.fr. Caldw. 

Queensbury, 1—1948-197 Glenville 30 h., p.o., & Glen's Falls, 3 m. W. of S.Hill. 

Salkm, P.O.-- 2833—229 Sale7n V.. ine., 70 b., 46m.N.E. of A. j a half shire. 

Thurman, p.o.— 1330 61 7miles'N.W.of Caldwell, 69m. fr. A. ; on Scroon R. 

Whitehall, p.o.— 2110— 178 Whiteh. V,, inc., 63 h. & s., and 5 sloops, 71 m.fr. A.; 

— [150 m. S. of St. Johns, in Canada. 

18-42:89-4079 

The County of Washington is bounded on the W. by the channel of the Hudson an 
extent of 55 or 60 miles, following tlie course of the river, commencing 15 niile* 
above the. tides ; on the E. it is washed by L. Cliamplaiii, the channel of which 
forms its boundai-y about 20 miles ; it embraces nearly all of Lake Ge. rp-e, the half 
of Scroon L-, the wliole of Brant L., .-.nd of .5". Eaxi, fi-om the head of L. Champlain, 
Sci'oon rivei', or the proper Hmlson, rises to the W. of Crown-Point in Essex Co., 
courses southward through the l-ake of the same name, ttnd across the northera 
part of Wasliington County, where it receives the N. braijch of the Hudson, which 
has risen a little further W. among the mountains, swamps and ponds of Essex and 
Montgomery Counties. Thus the Hudson, coming from 55 or 60 miles to the N., 
approaches within 5 miles of the S. end of Lake George, a water of L. ChampLiin, 
of the St. Lawrence. Hnomc creek, which rises in Vermont, holds a short conrss 
in the southern part of this county ; and Batten-kill, a fine stream from the same 
state, run.'5 westward across Washington to the Hudson, 10 miles further north. 
Paulet creek, also from Vermont, runs N. eastward into IVnod creek, wjiich rises 
near the great bend of tlie Hudson in tlxis county, and emjitics into the head of L, 
Champlain at Whitehall ; and Ptidtney creek or river, emptying at the same place, 
forms 13 or more miles of the boundary jietween New-York and Vermont. The.se 
are all sufficient streams for mills, and the advantages for navigation of the largest; 
ones, are detailed under their respective names. The Sucandaga, which wmda 
through Montgomery and Saratoga Counties to the Hudson, rises in Johnsburgh, 
the N.W. angle of Washington County, Any general chai'acter of soil and surface 
would be necessarily liable to naany objections, such is the extent of territory and 
so diversified. The country around Lake George is generally rugged and moun-. 
tainous, presenting summits of 6, 8, 900 to 1100 feet altitude; and indeed all the 
northern half is broken and hilly, if not amply entitled to a mountain character,, 
though interspersed with vallies of considerable extent, aflbrding a pretty good 
soil for farming. But the southern part, though considerably uneven, contains a 
Ter)' large proportiem of arable land, agreeably undulated, with a warm light soil, 
well adapted for the various products of field agriculture. Tracts of clay, and of 
light sand occur, but their pleasantness compensates for their lessened fertility, 
when compared with the gravelly loam or mold of the adjacent tracts. The towns 
of KingslKU-y, Queensbury, Hartford and Granville, with those immediately on the 
N., present to my mind such contrarieties of geological structure, that general de-> 
scription ipfcars imnfipsible ; and a volume would barely afiqi'd roonj for just di^ 
scrimiaation of local detail. 

The country around Lake George, exhibits a most singular geological concision, 
where an almost infinite variety of stones and earths are found on a small space, as 
if promiscuously colL'cted by some mighty efibrt. And the geology of all the 
northern part of Wash ini^ on County is highly interesting; presenting a fijie, an 
ample field for scientific rese'vch and philosophical enquiry. The agriculture of 
the southern part, is very re spectable and productive, Jn the northern part, which 
is comparatively new, the pine forests s'.!p])ly l?rge quantities of lumber, in logs, 
square timber, boards, olimgles, &c., ^hit descend the Hudson in rafts. And rafi^ 
of lumber ascend Lake George with little labor, during -i N. wind, to Caidvell, 
whence it is conveyed by land 14 iiiiles to F> t-Edward on the Hudson. The manu'. 
factures are shewn in the General Summary, page 49; :!.nd few co'inties produce 
more of clothing fium houoihoid indust;y. Tlie loads are numerous; and the 
northern turnpike from Lansingburgh to W?ll3, in Vermont, leading thfough th^ 



112 (JAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 

populo'.is and well cultivated towns in the S. eastern part of Washing-ton County, 
deserves eminent notice, as one of the best roads of the same extent in the Stale of 
New-York. Salem, where the courts are held half the time, is a pleasant, compact, 
incorporated villatje, of 70 houses and stores, a court-house and jail, an academy 
and two churches. The situation is very agi-eeable, in an opulent farming country, 
on the northern turnpike, 46 miles N.E. of Albany. Smidy-Hill, the other half shire 
of this county, is finely stated on a high sandy plain, on the E. bank of the Hudson, 
in the town of Kingsbr.ry, 52 miles N. of Albany. It is an incorporated village, 
contains 60 houses, some public buildings, and has a brisk trade. But the division 
of county business, tliough attended with some partial conveniences, is impolitic and 
detilmental to the general good, in a county of moderate extent; and when this 
county shall be divided, as it probably will be before long, it is to be wished that 
half-shires shail no longer be known in it. The main post and travelling route from 
New-York to Canada, lies through this couaty ; from Fort-Miller- tlu-ough J^-andy- 
Ilill to Whitehall, at the head of L. Champlain. In February, 1812, 1 found 5 sloops 
own.-d here, from 39 to 80 tons burthen. This place is 100 miles S. of Burlington, 
in Vermont, and 150 from St. John's, in Lower Canada,, from each of which places 
I found a sloop laying at Whitehall docks. Here is an incorporated village of 61 
liouses and stores, b- sides mills. 

In 1786, the population of Waslilngton County was 44-56 ; in 1790, 14^042 ; in 
1800, 35,574 ; in 1810, 4:^,289. The rnineralogy of this county has been but little 
examined. Slate, of a superior quality for the roofing of houses, is foimd, and 
limestone is very abundant. Marble of a superior quality is found in Granville, 
beautifully variegated, and of a fme firm textui'e. Bog iron-ore is found at Fort- 
Edw.^rd, and wrought pretty extensively. Some samples of lead-ore, in the form 
of galena, and several other metallic samples of minor importance, are sent me by 
Corrospoudents. There are some mineral springs also ; and the mountains about 
Lake George afford samples of mica and other magnesian stones. — Washington 
.iends 5 Members to the House of Assembly. 



WESTCHESTER COUNTY. 

Westchester County, is of ancient date. It was represented in the first Legisla- 
tive Assembly of this State, then Colonjt, which met at New-York in 1691. And it 
has constituted one County to this time, having been organized as such by the Ge- 
r.eral Acts of 1788, and 1801. It is situated on t]\e E. side of the Hudson, imme- 
(Jiiatelv N. of New-Yoi'k County ; bounded N. by Dutchess County, E. by tiie State 
o'f Connecticut, Southerly by Long-Island Sound and East river, W. by Haarlem 
river and the Hudson ; or by New- York Co., the State of New-Jersey, and the Co. 
of Rockland, in this State. The area may be 480 square miles, or 307,200 acres — 
Situated between 40" 47' and 41** 22' N. Latitude ; 03' E. and 32' E. Longitude 
from New-York. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. Census, &c. of 1810. 

Towns. P.Offic. Pop. S. Elec Kcmarks. 

BKDFonn, P.O.— 2374— 241 Bedford V., 1 30 m. fr. Alb., 40 E. of N. fr. N. York. 

Cortlaudt, 1.— 3054— 182 PeckskiU V. & Land'g., p.o., 118 fr. A. ; Verplanck's 

East-Chester, 1039 96 20 m. fr. N.York, on E. riv. [Point, Tellar's Point. 

Green&burgh, p.o. — 1862 — 137 Tarry-Town V. and Landing; on the Hud., 133 fr. A. 

Harison, 1119 66 30 miles N,E. of New-York, 3 E, of White-Plains. 

Mamaroneck, p.o. — 496 23 Mamaroneck V., Sutton's Point, 24 m. N.E. of N.Y. 

Mount-Pleasant, r.o. — 3119 — 218 Sing-Sing V. & Landing, on the Hud., 125 m. i'r. A. 

New-Castle, 1291 ?2 6 miles E. of Sing-Sing, 35 miles from New-York. 

New-llochelle, p.o. 996 78 New-Roehelle V., on E. river, 22 m. fr. N.York. 

North-Castle, P.O.— 1366— 119 33 m. fr. N. Y., 134 fr. A. Head of Bvram Creek. 

North-Salem, 1204—102 N.E. corner of County ; 53 f N.Y., 124 f. A. Acad'y. 

Pclham, 267 19 (hi E. river, Pell's I'oint, Hart and High Islands. 

Poundridge, 1249 — 124 5m.fr. Bedford, 15 E. of Sing-Sing. [Parsonage Pt. 

Rye, r.o.— 1278 85 On E. river, 29 miles fr. N.Y^ 142 m. fr. A. Byram. 

Soarsclale, 259 — 15 24 miles from N.York, 3 8. of Whitc-llaius. 



GENERAL VIEW OF COUNTIES. 113 

Somers, p.o.— 1782— 142 Somers V., Croton Falls ; oO m. fr. N.Y., 120 fr. A. 

South-Salem, 1566—186 50 m. fr. N.Y., 126 fr. A. ri>:-ltli?e, Throg's Neck. 

West-Chester, p.o. 1-1969— 105 W. Farms, p.o., 12 m. fr. N.Y. ; Morrissania, Kingi- 

White-Plaixs, P.O. 693 — 68 While-Plains Y. ,30m. h\ 'N.Y. Battle Ground. 

Yonkers, r.o.— 1365 91 Philipsburgh, UOfr. A., 21 fr.N.Y. Ft.lndc-pend. 

York,* 1924—142 124 m. fr. A., 8 fr. Peekskill. Croton and IVckskill 

^— Creeks^ 

13-30272-2318 

The County of Westchester comprises a very important section of this State. — 
Washed on the W. by tlie Hudson, on the S. by E. river and Long'-Island Sound, it 
enjoys very superior advantages for trade and commerce, with a fine soil for agri- 
culture, and a charniinsj diversity of surface and of elegant situation— while its 
contiguity to the great conimercial Metropolis of N. America, completes a proud 
superiority of geographical position. The N. W. corner is considerably broken by 
the S. Eastern border of the Highlands, of a movmtain chai-acter ; and a range of 
hills of moderate height extends from York -Island toward the N. E. extremity, on 
which are situated the Heights and Hills much kno\vn in the Revolutionary War, 
particularly in the year 1776. Besides Haarlem, Hudson and East rivers, forming; 
the boundaries, there are several small streams that afford many mill-scats. Peeks- 
kill and Croton creeks, which rise in Dutchess Co., run S. Westward across the N- 
Western part of Westchester County to the Hudson. Saw-mill creek, runs froiu 
Mount-Pleasant to tiic Hudson in Yonkers ; and Bronx creek, the largest, Hutchin** 
or E. Chester and Mamaroneck creeks, run S. into E. river. — Byram creek run:* 
from Westchester, principally in Connecticut, and forms 2 miles of the State boyn- 
dary from its mouth in East river, which receives some other small streams from 
the's. E. angle of Westchester County, direct across the S. W. angle of Connect- 
icut. The taxable property, as valued on the Supervisors' books for 1810, was 
829,273 dollars of personal property, 5,488,053 of real estate, amounting to 6,317,- 
326 dollars. The taxable inhabitants are 4472. The soil of this county admits of 
no general character, except that its tillage is productive to the agriculturalist. 
The style of its agriculture is in the first order, if we except Dutchess. The lower 
part has considerable of ornamental farming and gardening, where are the scats of 
men of opulence, cultivated with much taste. Its manufactures are shewn in the 
General Summary, page 49. Westcliester has adopted a bad policy in establishing' 
two places for holding its courts of justice ; and what is vei-y remarkable, with 
such an extent of navigable waters, both its half-shires are inland towns. Bedford^ 
the northern one, is about 10 miles from the Hudson, and White-Plains, about 6. — 
Had a single trading, commei'cial position been chosen, a flourishing and more po- 
pulous town would have been a certaui consequence ; nor would a deviation from a 
geographical centre have been found inconvenient, had a cenli-e of busuiess, a bet- 
ter rule, been duly sought. Nothing invidious is intended, but a too prevalent er- 
ror certainly deserves animadversion.f Tarry-Tov.'n, Sing-Sing, and sonie others,' 
are charming positions on the Hudson, where are small Villages and Lamdings, with 
considerable trade. Tappan Bay, a wide place in the Hudson, is hcie 3 miles in 
width, where crouds of siupping are constantly seen passing in opposite directions, 
exhibiting a most elegant display of commercial activity. The population of AVest- 
chestcr County in 1731, was 6033; in 1771, 21,745; in 1736, 20,554; in 1790, 
24,003 ; in 1800, 27,423 ; in 1810, 30,272. 

This County suffered severely doi'ing the Revolutionary contest for Independ- 
ence. The whole soutliern part was marked by the marches, works for defence, or 
skirmishes and battles of hostile armies. And indeed the active operations* of the. 
war in 1776, were prhicipally confined to this region, and in the autumn to this 
county, where the two armies were in l"ull force, constar.tly on the alert, and under 
the eyes of their respective Commanders-in-Chief And this, too, was probably th^ 
most'interesting period of the war, though attended with no exploits of very bril • 



* Or York-Toiini. 

■\ J\''othi7i^- w more common than to see a School-House i^laced in soine lonely copse, or 
«!i an exposed /till, remote from every C07^veni^7lc■::, hst one niuji I'liifht have an acc'im- 
Kodation -which cannot be common to all ! 



114. GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



liant fame. Tlie British, with a numerous army, and a powerful marine, were in 
possession of New-York ; while Washington, with an inferior and badly supplied 
army, dispirited by the affair of Long-Island, was merely manouvering' to keep them 
in check. The battle of White-Plains, October 28lh, will long be remembered, as 
will tlie dismal prospects of that year — when the Patriot Fathers of America had 
still the courage to Declare Independence, and assert the rights of nature and of 
nations.* But though the morning Sim of Declared Independence arose thus in u 
cloud, — while yet it was morning, Princeton, Trenton, and the plains of Saratoga, 
enjoyed a broad refulgence, diffusing new spirits over the nation. And it were 
well worthy the attention of every American youth, to study the history of that 
war, and thus learn the price paid for Independence, the better to know liow to 
appreciate its value. Nor ought we to f<n-get that the privileges, so dearly pur- 
chased, can only be preserved to our posterity, by that zeal for our country which 
govei-ned the conduct of our Fathei-s now descended to the grave. — Westchester 
County sends 3 Members to the House of Assembly. 

* July 4, 1776. 



TOPOGRAPHICAL VIEW 



OF THE SEVERAL 



TOWNS, CITIES, VILLAGES. 

And other Articles of Topographical Description^ 



IN THE 



STATE OF NEW-YORK 

ARRAKGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. • 



A. 



ADAMS, a Post-Township in the south 
part of Jefferson Countv, bounded on the 
JSr. by Houns field and Watertown, E. by 
Rodman, S. by Lorraine and Ellisburg-h, 
"W. by Henderson. It is about 6 miles 
square, and is named Aleppo, on I)e Witt's 
Maps. The lands are arable and rich, in 
an eminent degree, and yield very sure 
and ifood crops of wheat, rye, maize, oats, 
pulse, flax, ^rass, and every usual ag-ri- 
cultural product of tliat climate. The 
first settlements in this Town, were made 
in 1800, and it contained 119 taxable in- 
habitants in 1803— in 1809, 181,— princi- 
pally emigrants from the Eastern States. 
The land is held in fee-simple, and the in- 
habittmts are mostly husbandmen, whose 
annual stores evince a liberal reward for 
industr}'> There are yet about 2 or 3000 
acres of unsettled land. Watered by the 
N. branch of bisf Sandy creek, and by 
StMiey creek, it affords a convenient sup- 
ply of water, and of mill seats, many of 
which are improved. On the N. branch 
of Sandy creek, in the S. part of this Town, 
is situated a flourishing' viUage, 160 
miles from Albany, known by the name of 
Smithes Mills, in all the adjacent country. 
The Creek aftbrds plenty of water, and 
Tims through the middle of the village, 
over a quick descent of rocky bottom, 
oilering great facilities for mills, and ev- 
ery kind of machinery driven by water. 
Here are 2 saw-mills, 1 grist-mill, 1 
fulling-mill, a small air-furnace, 2 distll- 
lerles for grain spirits, a carding-machine, 
and a convenient variety of artificers, 
tradesmen, &c. — In the N. part of the 
Town are, 2 saw-mills, 1 grist-mill, and 
a distillery. Smithville, is 10 miles from 
Lake Ontario. In this Town are many re- 
mains of those ancient works so common 
iii all the Western countrv of tlic U. S.— 



Pieces of the coarse earthen-ware and. 
pipes, are frequently met with, and old 
stone hearths are found many feet under 
ground. There are 7 of the tumular re- 
mains, of moderate height, with the ditch 
encircling them, the area from ^ acre, to 
2 acres each. — Population in 1810, 1376 
souls. There ai-e 169 Sen. Electors. 

AV. H. 
Addison, a Township of Steuben Coun- 
ty, formerly called M iddletown ; bounds 
ed N. by Bath, E. by Painted-Post, S. by 
the State of Pennsylvania, W. by Troups- 
biu-gh and Caniste'o. The population m 
1810, was 369, and it has been partial- 
ly settled about 18 years. It comprisea 
Townships Nos. 1, 2 and 3, in the 3d 
Range of Phelps and Gorham's purchase ; 
No. 3 in the 4th Range, and part of Nos. 
2 and 1 in tlie same range ; being about 
20 miles long N. and S., and from 9 to 
12 miles wide. It is well watered by Ca- 
nisteo and Tuscarora creeks, with some 
others, which empty into Tioga river, the 

western branch of the Susquehanna. 

These streams supply abundance of sites 
for mills, and some boatable waters. The 
timber varies witli the soil, and there arer 
considerable tracts of pine, hemlock, &c. 
A large part of the whole may be called 
rough and considerably stonv, though 
the soil is warm and deep, capable of be- 
coming a good farming country. There 
are 4 saw and 2 grist-mills erected ; and 
a valuable quarry of grii-stone has been 
opened that answers well for common 
grind-stones. Land is held principally in 
teeslmple. The centre of this Town is 
about 15 miles S. of Jialh, the capital of 
the county. , 

E. C. 
Albaxt CocNxr — See page 63. 



116 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



AtEi??^, CiTi, the capital of the State 
of Nev/-York, and of tlie County of Alba- 
ny, is situated on the W. bank of Hudson 
river near the head of tide-water, 160 
miles N. of tl»e c'lty of A'^iv-Yerk, 30 miles 
]Sr. of Ihuhon, 6 miles S. of Troy, and 15 
about S. S. from Schenectady. In wealth., 
popularion, trade andrr'jc.urces, it is next 
in ran^to the city of New-York, in tliis 
State, and takes about the 6th or 7th rank 
among the principal Towns in the United 
States. Tile City of Albany, agreeable to 
the Cliartev, is one mile wide on the ri- 
ver, and extelids due N. W. to the N. 
line of the Mi.nor of Rensselaer, holding- 
its width of one mile, and is about ISj 
miles long, Uie right of soil of which is 
the absolute property of the Corporation 
in perpetuity. It is bounded Northerly 
hy the Townships of Colonic, Watei-vliet, 
andbv the Covmty of Schenectady ; South- 
erly W Guilderlandt and Bethlehem ; 
Easterly by the Hudson or the County oi" 
Hensselaev : and tlie boundaries have never 
been altered fi-Qva the original Charter 
gi'anted in 16f:6. The area is about 6840 
acres, which also constitutes a Township 
for all the purposes of civil government. 
Of this extent, only a small proportion is 
tmder populous improvement or any kind 
of cultivation, the western part having a 
sterile clay or sandy soil, principally in 
wood, while the compact population is 
immediately on the margin of the Hud- 
son. To the viev/ of a stranger, the situ- 
ation of Albany is seldom thought pleas- 
ing; for the gi-ouiKl is singularly uneven, 
and there is a peculiar dissonance of taste 
in the plan of the city, as v/ell as in UK- 
style of its architecture. A low alluvial 
flat extends along tlie river, and in the 
rear of this rises the rivev-hiU, abruptly, 
to near the height of the plain which ex- 
tends to Schenectady. This flat is from 
15 to 100 rods wide ;— and the hiil, whicl' 
is composed of alternate strata of fuie 
blue fetid clay and silicious sand, thcugi. 
deeply gullied by some small Y,;,tcr- 
coui'ses, rises, within A mile of the river 
in the direction of State-Street, till it 
^in an elevation of 153 leet; tlience, for 
linother half mile, tlie ascent is about 60 ; 
making about 230 feet above the level oi 
the river in the distance of 1 mile. 

The principal streets of Albany are pa- 
rallel with the river, except State-Street, 
a spacious and central one that extends 
from the Hudson to the Capitol, being 
nearly east and west, v/ith several other.s, 
less considerable, intersecting the main 
stj-eets nearly at riglit angles. Co;trt-]\ 
Street, extends from the Ferry, at the Ij 



southern extremity of the compact part 
and near the S. bounds of the city to State- 
Street, and has a large share of popula- 
tion and business. JVlarket-Street opcn.-J 
opposite tliis, and extends from State - 
Street to the northern bovmds of the city, 
thougii continuous except in nrlme, thro* 
the Township and Village of Colonic, to 
near the Mansion House of Major-General 
Stephen Van Rensselaer. These streets 
thus extend across the city, nearly paral- 
lel with the Hudson, between which there 
are se\'eral other streets, less extensive, 
as Dock-Street, Quay-Street, &c., popu- 
lous, principally occupied with store- 
houses, shops, &c., the seat of immense 
commercial business. .SVnf^-iSf reef, extends 
from the river in a narrow avenue to lh;^ 
open area at the meeting of Court and 
Market-Streets, where it opens to the li- 
beral width of 150 to 170 feet, and ex- 
tends 1900 feet to the Capitol, with an 
average ascent of 67 feet in 100. The 
Public Square, an open space of liberal 
extent, spreads a handsome area on the 
E. side of the Capitol ; and from the W. 
side of this, Lion-Street, spacious and le- 
vel, extends westward in a right line 011 
a commanding plain, to the jvmction of 
the Great Western Turnpikes. These 
streets have been laid out in a style which 
may be characterized as being modern in 
Albany, are spacious, straight, and ele- 
gant ; and forming the gTand avenue into 
the heart of the city, they will probably 
continue to command the most extensive 
trade. State-Street ma)' be regarded as 
the grand central point of Albany, where 
its opulence is to be displ-iyed, where 
taste shall ever vie with tasV<', architect 
with architect, age with age, in perpe- 
tual succession. Fearl-Strcct extends N. 
from State -Street to the noi;thern ex- 
tremity of the city, just on the brow of 
the river hill, and next W. of Mai'ket- 
Sireet. And U'ushingtan- Street opens ou 
Uie S. side of State-Street opposite: Pearl- 
Street, extending S. to the S. bound.s of 
the cit}', ranging just at the foot of the 
river hill, lict .vcen this and Court-Strect 
are several other streets, and a compact 
population, crowded, on the N. toward 
ritate-Street, but thin in the southern part 
where Washington-Street diverges west- 
'varu irorn t!ic river, between wliich lie 
the grounds formerly dc^nomjnated tiie 
Pasture, from their being uj)propriated to 
grazing. 1 he fiats here were originally 
subject to aruuial inundation, and though 
recently raised some WiQt, are now hardly 
above high-water mark. Of all the prin- 
cipal streets, Markct-Sti-ect is at piescnt 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



117 



the most compact, populous, and proba- 
bly the most wealthy. But, through the 
compact population on each side of State- 
Street, other streets extend from the hill 
to the river, parallel to State -Street, 
which are closely built, and contain many 
vei"y valuable brick houses and stores ; 
these are intersected by others also m 
opposite directions, a baie enumeration 
of M'hich would be useless and uninterest- 
ing', while it would swell this ai-ticle far 
be}ond the limits assigned to it.* 

Agreeable to the Census of 1810, the 
whole population of the City of Albany 
was 9356, of which number were 4444 
white males, 4157 white females, 501 
other free persons not taxed, and 254 
slaves ; ar.d the whole number of houses 
within the city 1450; but it must be recol- 
lected that this enumeration excludes the 
populous Village of Colonic, because in 
another Town, though that part necessa- 
rily belong's to Albany in a general view 
of its population, resources, wealth, 
trade, and general character. There are 
other suburbs, also excluded in that es- 
timate, which would justly swell the po- 
pulation to about 12,000, and the houses 
to 1800, within a little more than 1 mile 
square. Nor must we omit to notice the 
little Village of Bath, or that of Green- 
bush, rapidly increasing in extent and 
population, though on the opposite shore 
of the Hudson, and in another County. 
At Grccnbush are about 80 buildings ; — 
here is the landing from the Albany fer- 
ry, and near here are the extensive Bar- 
racks for the United States' army, erect- 
ed in 1812. But, there are many other 
small collections of hou.ses in the vicini- 
ty of Albany, ou the same side of the ri- 
ver also, that, to the view of a Stranger, 
form parts of its improvements. And 
there are about 100 dv/ellings built eve- 
ry )ear, according to the increase of 3 
or 4 years past. 

Having- been thus mhiute in topo- 
graphical notices, I shall now speak of 
Albany more generally, with its popula- 
tion, &c., includmg a view of those im- 
]>rovements that surround and belong to 
it geographically, though legally attach- 
ed to other Towns. 

The position of Albany was first cho- 
sen by a commercial people, for a mili- 
tary post, that should extend the trade 
with tite Indians, and give to that trade 
a beiAer security and ciuu-aeter. Here 
seemed tJie head of the tide, and of sloop. 



* Fn tlic future editions »f this -aorh it 
'9 nvi inti'vti^n tn add a plan nf 'he Citn. 



navigation ; and here the adventurers 
found a good ship-channel so close iu 
v/ith the shore as to save docking, — and a 
fertile intervale of low and rich alluvion, 
where they erected a Stockade to guard 
against surprise by the Indians. This 
was about 1614.* The Charter of Alba- 
ny, incorporating " the ancient settle- 
ment there as a City," was granted in 
1686, a few months previous to that of 
New-York, and Albany has now the old- 
est Charter of any City in the United 
States. 

The plan of this city, the style of its 
pi'.blic and private works, with the whole 
character cf its police and municipal re- 
gulations, are much improved within the 
last 10 years. Originally, the inhabitants 
had to considt present convenience ra- 
ther than taste and future elegance, 
more congenial too with the Dutch cha- 
riicter ; though if English ostentation, 
enjoying the ease and luxury of opulencft 
and progressive improvement, reproach 
with parsimony the ancient character of 
the inhabitants of Albany, a just discri- 
mination may find the happy medium, 
perhaps, somewhere between these ex- 
tremes of national character. With 
these improvements and a more enlight- 
ened taste, principally introduced by a 
rapid influx of people from the Eastern 
States, there has been a correspondent 
increase of trade, commercial activity 
and entcrprize. 

Situated on one of the finest rivers in 
the world, at the distance of 200 miles 
from the ocean, whose tides it enjoys, 
with an uninterrupted sloop-navigation, 
and in the centre of an extensive and 
fertile country of which it becomes the 
natural mart, Alban\' carries on an im- 
mense trade already, and seems destined 
to become one of the greatest inland 
Towns in America. 

There are now at Albany about 12,000 
inhabitants, 18U0 houses and stores, ma- 



* This establishment -was on the bank of 
the river, in ~<vliat has since been culled the 
Faslure, itnmediateli/ belorj the Steam' 
Boat Bock. Jiboiit 1623 it v:as enlars^ed, 
better stockaded, and called Fort-Oravge, 
according to the beat accounts. A later 
■work rms erected on the river-hill, in a 
more commanding position, but retained the 
s«me name, except in a very limited circle 
tvhere it was called Williamstadt, till 1664, 
7vhen the whole conntinj passed into the 
hands of the English, who gave the present 
TLime in compliment to the Duke of York 
and AIl:a7ii', then Loril I'ropriefor, 



16 



118 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK, 



ny of which are very extensive, large 
and eletrant, and a large proportion of 
which are of brick, 10 houses for public 
worship, the Capitol or State-House, and 
another for the public Offices, an old 
City-IIall, an elegant new jail, the old 
one of brick, which is to be demoliRhed, 
3 banks, with 2 elegant banking-hcusea, 
an alm-i-house, a mechanic-hall, Uranian- 
hall, library-house, a powder-house be- 
longing to the state, and one also for the 
city, a large state-arsenal for public 
stores, 2 market-houses, a theatre now 
building, and many elegant private man- 
sions and gentlemen's seats, with a great 
variety of njanufactcries, some of which 
are very extensive. 

Of the shipping belonging to Albany, 
I am not precisely informed ; but agree- 
able to information derived from the 
Dock-Master, there are 50 Albany sloops 
that pay wharfage by the .jear ; 60 be- 
longing to Troy, Lansingburgh and Wa- 
teribrd ; 26 from Tarry-Town and New- 
York ; 70 from New-Jersey and the East- 
ern States, including 20 schooners ; in 
all 206 ; — and about 150 from different 
places have paid wharfage by the day, 
being engaged in different kinds of 
trade, during the season of 1812 :— mak- 
ing a total number of 356. 

Tile quantity of wheat purchased annu- 
ally in Albany, is immensely great ; and 
good judges have estimated it at near a 
million bushels. Other grain, and every 
article of the agricultural and other com- 
mon products of this country, nearly in 
the same proportion, swell the aggi'egate 
of exports from this city to an enormous 
amount. It vi'lU be observed that the 
g'reat roads of communication between 
tile Eastern States and the Western 
Country, centre more extensive inter- 
course at Alban}', than at any other place 
between the Eastern and Western sec- 
tions of the Union.* And it is doubted 

* 'Jlie Ferrif acros.i the Hudson, bet-aeen ) 
.Ubami and Greenhimh, belongs to the Citi/ 
by Charter, and the established rates of 
ferriage are tiioiighi (o be coinparativelij 
Voii' .• for a single person '■^ vents; e-oertj 
cart or -waggon, and every chair, chaise, 
cifp., 1?.^ cents. It is the policy of the Cor- 
J oration that the Ferry shall just pay its 
Limi expenses, and not to wake it a source 
of revemie ; biU the receipts of the year 
iS12, will full Utile short nf 7,000 dollars ; 
and they are considerably increased in 
amount by the operations of the -.vur. There 
is also another Ferry across the Ilndsav, 
frovii the vV. part of Cvlonic to Jiuth. 



if there be a place on this continent 
wiiich is dally visited by so many teams ; 
and Albany jirobably possesses greater 
wealth, more real capital, than any otlier 
place in the United States, containing 
the same jxjpulation. 

There are 3 Banking companies in this 
city, the Bank of Albaii}', the New- York 
State Kank, and the Mechanics' and Far- 
mers' Bank, with an aggregate capital 
of 1,380,000 dollars ; and the Albany In- 
surance Company is incorporated with a 
capital of 500,000 dollars. The city is 
supplied with water by aqueducts of 
considerable extent ; and a new Reser- 
voir of hewn stone, recently erected on 
the hill near the Capitol, v/hich is de- 
signed to ensure a more abundant sup- 
ply, is an excellent work of the kind. 
Tliis Reservoir is filled with water from 
a spring about 3 miles distant, which it 
discharges through smaller aqueducts 
to furnish a separate supply to each fa- 
mily. 

Among the public buildings, the Ca- 
/(//oZ challenges distinguished attention. 
This building stands at the head of 
State-Street, adjoining the public square, 
and on an elevation of I30 feet above the 
level of the Hudson, It is a substantial 
stone building, faced with free-stone 
taken from the brown sand-stone quar- 
ries on the Hudson below the Higlilands. 
The east iront, facing State-Street, is 90 
feet in length ; the north, 115 feet ; tiic 
walls are 50 feet high, consisting of 2 
stories, and a basement story of 10 feet. 
The east front is adorned witJi a portico 
of the Ionic order, tetrastyle ; the co- 
Ivmms, 4 in number, are each 3 feet 8 
inches in diameter, 33 feet in heig-ht, ex- 
elusive of the entablature which sup- 
ports an angular pediment, in the tym- 
panum of wliich is to be placed the Arms 
of the State, The columns, pilasters, 
and decorations of the door and windows, 
are of white or grey marble, from Berk- 
shire county in Massachusetts. The 
north and sciutli fronts have each a pedi- 
ment of 65 feet baijc, and tlie doors aie 
decorated with columns and angular pe- 
dinients of free-stone. The ascent to 
the hall at the east or princijial front, is 
by 15 stone steps, 48 feet in lengtji. — 
This hall is 58 feet in length, 40 feet in 
width, and 16 in Iicight, the ceiling of 
which is supported by a double row of 
reeded columns ; — the doors are finished 
u ilh pilasters and open pediments ; tjie 
floor vaulted, and laid witli squares of 
Italian marble, diagonally, chequered 
with whi'.e and grey. From this hall. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



119 



the first clooi- on the right hand opens to 
the Common Council Chamber of the 
Corporation of Albany ; opposite this, on 
the left, is a room for the Council of Tie- 
vision. On the right, at the W. end of 
the hall you enter the Assembly-Cham- 
ber, vvliicli is 56 feet long, 50 wide, and 
28 feet in height. The Speaker's seat 
is in tlie centre of tlie lorigest side, and 
the scats and tables for the members are 
arranged in front of it, in a sertii-circular 
form, it has a gallery opposite the 
Speaker's seat, supported by 8 antique 
fluted Ionic columns ; — the frieze, cor- 
nice, and ceiling-piece, (18 feet diame- 
ter,) are richly ornamented in Stucco. ^- 
Vrom this hall, on tbe left, you are con- 
ducted to the Senate-Chamber, 50 feet 
long, 28 wide, and 28 feet high,* finish- 
ed much in the same style as the Assem- 
L1.3'-Cliamber. In the furniture of these 
rooms, with that of the Countil of llevi- 
sion, tliere is a liberal display of public 
munificence, and the American Eagle as- 
sumes an Imperial splendor. Tliere are 
2 other rooms on this fioor adjoining 
those first mentioned, which are occu- 
pied as lobbies to accommodate the 
members of the Legislat»u'e. 

From the west end, in the centre of 
the hall, you ascend a staircase that 
turns to the right and left leading to 
•the Galleries of the Senate and Assem- 
My-Chambers, and also to the Supreme 
Court room, which is Immediately over 
the hall : its dimensions are 50 feet in 
length, 40 in breadth, and 22 in height. 
This room is handsomely ornamented in 
Jjtucco. An entresole or mezzazii>e sto- 
ry, on each side of tlic Court room, C(m- 
lains 4 rooms for Jurors and the uses of 
tlie Courts. 

The attic story contains a Mayor's 
<^ourt room, a room for the Society of 
Arts, and 2 other rooms yet unappropri- 
titcd. This building is roofed with a 
double-hip,- or pyramidal form, upon 
the centre of which is erected a circular 
cupola 20 feet diameter, covered with a 
domical roof, supported by 8 insulated 
• •olumns ol" the Ionic order, and contains 
a small bell for the use of tbe courts. — 
The centre of the dome sustains a pe- 
destal, on which is placed Themis, fac- 
ing State-Street, a carved figure in wood 

* Tliis violation of urcldteciuval propor- 
tions, is a deviation from the design of the 
Architect, JMr. Philip H. Hooker, of this 
iity, luhose ubilities and correctness in the 
line of his profession are. universaUt/ ac- 
knoiuledsred. 



of 11 feet in height, holding a sword irt 
her right hand, and a balance in liei* 
left. The whole cost of the building, 
115,000 dollars ; and I regret to say that 
the roof is covered with pine instead of 
slate, with wliicli the state abounds, and 
of an excellent quality. 

The house erected by the Government 
for the chief Offices of State, is a large 
substaiitial brick building, situated on 
the S. side of Slate-Street. The Albany 
Bank is a brick edifice of 3 stories, ele- 
gantly faced ift front with wliite marble 
from Massachusetts ; situated on the E. 
corner of Market and State-Streets^ Ap- 
posite the Fost-OfRce, and facing- the 
Capitol, at the distance of 1900 feet.— 
The New- York State Bank is situated on 
tlie N. side of State-Street, between 
Pearl and Market-Streets, and presents 
a modestly ornamented brick front, coir- 
ceived in the happiest style of ornamen- 
tal elegance. Of the Churclies, or houses 
dedicated to Religious purposes, that 
called the South Dutch Church, situated 
between Hudson and Beaver-Streets, ex- 
hibits unquestionably the finest speci- 
men of the arts to be found in this city, 
in any public building. And it may be 
questioned, indeed, whether any public 
building in the state Vv^iil better bear 
close examination, when finislied accord- 
ing to the design. This building be- 
longs to the Reformwl Butch Congrega- 
tion, very numerous and respectable, 
and probably tlie richest in the state, 
next to one or two in the city of New- 
York.* The old Dutch Cliurch that for- 



* This is the Congregation noticed un- 
der Manners and Cvs-foMs, page 34. — 
The first Chiirch -was founded in 1656, 
and stood at the junction of State, Afar- 
ket, and Court-Streets, the pulpit of -whicli 
■was imported entire from Holland, and is 
still so preserved Jji 1715, as the congre- 
gation encreased in numbers, the Church 
^uns enlarged by a new one enclosing the 
smaller, which was then removed. The 
second one was in the Gothic style, 1 story 
high, and the glasi of its antirjue windows 
were richly ornimetited with coats of arms, 
those fixed heralds of the pride of ancestry. 
This is the Church which was demolished 
in 1806, ajid the stone employed in the nein 
South Church, noticed above. li is a no- 
vel thing in this country that one congre- 
gation worship in two places, thmigh there 
is at present but one settled J\linistei\ who 
preaches alt;rnately in the .'\'. aiid S- 
Churches; — but having thus graihicdlif ai- 
j tained such numbers, and f'or.i so smnii 



120 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-Yoni 



merly stood in State-Street, was taken 
down in 1806, and the stone and other 
durable materials from that are employ- 
ed in the erection of the "^outli Church, 
■which is not yet quite finished. A per 
tico, steeple, bell, and town clock are to 
be added, when it will have cost about 
100,000 dollars. Its pews now yield an 
annual income of 770 dollars. The 
North Dutch Church, situated on the AV. 
side of Pearl-Street, has been erected 
some years, and belon;.^s to the same 
congreg-ation as The above. It is a lar.e^e 
brick edifice, of good proportions, and 
lias 2 steeples, in which are a bell and a 
town clock. The rent of its pews yields 
an annual income of 020 dollars. Wl«)le 
cost of the building about 50,000 dolls. 

The Presbytvi-rian Church is a plain 
brick edifice, and has a steeple, bell and 
town clock. It is a neat building in 
modern style, sufficiently elegant, stand- 
ing at the corner of Washington and 
Beaver- Streets. 

The Episcopal Church is on the N. 
side of State-Street, a durable stone 
building of good appearance, and very 
just proportions. Its steeple is unfinish- 
ed, but it has an elegant church organ. 

The German Lutheran Church, is a 
small building with a steeple, bell and 
organ, standuig nearly opposite the Pres- 
byterian Church, in "Wushington-Street. 

A Roman Catholic Chapel, and a sm.all 
Presbyterian Church, with the City Li- 
brary and Mecha-.ic Hall, are situated 
on the W. side of Chapel-Street. A 
Methodist Meeting-House stands on the 
East side of Pearl-Sti'eet, opposite the 
North Dutch Church ; and there is a Se- 
ceder's Church in ihe N. part oi the city 
or in Colonic. 

The Arsenal, i.i a large brick edifice, 
filled with military stores belonging to 
the State of New-York and the United 
States, situated in the Village of Colo- 
nic. The City Povvdcr-IIouse, stands on 
the plain at the Washington Square ; 
and a Powder-House erected in 1811, by 
the State, at the exi^ense of 3'JOO dollars, 
stands on an eminence of the plain, near 
the 3 mile-stone. The Aims-House is 
also on tjie plain, near ilie Washuiglon 
Square, tlie annual expense of which, 
widi the support of the poor, is about 
6UU0 dollars. The Theatre, now build- 



(ind ancient a beginnivg, to continue wiit- 
ed seemn preferable to u sep(iratio7t. Tlie 
hell Tjhich is notu placed ok the Capitol, 
■vas seni from Jlolkuid to tlte Congrega- 
ihn of the ZhUc/t Church. 



ing, at an expense of about 10,000 dolls, 
is situated on the W. side of Greene- 
Street. And in this general enumera- 
tion, it may be v/ell to notice the exten- 
sive Barracks recentlj- erected at Green- 
bush, opposite this city, for the use o£ 
the United States' army, though in the 
County of Rensselaer. 

Of the houses, stores, &c., a very large 
prf)portion are of brick, with slate or 
tile roofs, well guarded against fire ; and 
the style of building in litis city, very 
much improA'ed within a few years, is 
now as good as in any part of United 
America. 

Fiom the ferry, the Quays extend north- 
ward along the rl^'er, with a good depth of 
water, nearly 1 mile j and the street front- 
mgthis is pretty compactly built for the 
m.ost of that distance. Here are usually 
seen from 80 to 200 sloops and schoon- 
ers, with a scene of activity honorable 
to the character of the place. The usual 
1 ides at Albany are from 1 to 3 or 4 feet ; 
but variable according to tlie wind, and 
the strength of the current in the Hud- 
son. To this city, the sloop navigation 
may be said to be very good, though 
some trifling rapids and shoals which 
now occasion some little difficulty, will 
yield in lime to complete removal. The 
streets are pretty well paved, with side- 
walks, and are sufficiently lighted by 
about 2.50 fixed lamps. 

Agreeable to the Report of a commit- 
tee of the Common Council, on the city 
accounts for 1811, the whole expendi- 
tures of that year amoimted to 53,320 
dollars. Several items of these expen- 
ditures arc subject to variation, but the 
lamps and night-watch, which cost 6793 
dollars, the support of the Alnis-House, 
Lancaster School, salaries of Officers, 
&c., &c., are either permanent in amount, 
or increasing- with the population of the 
city ; and a large part of the expendi- 
tures were on account of public improve- 
ments. With an eye to the future great- 
ness of this city, it were well to fovmd 
its public works on a liberal sc.ile. And 
the corporation i.s rich in means, having 
other laiuls than those within the Char- 
ter of Albany, beside the customary 
soui'ccs of internal revenue. --The reve- 
nue of that year, derived from rents, and 
sales of lauds, 36,730 dollars ; excise, 
1375 dolls.; city taxes, S7U00; county 
do. Slu37 ; the ferry, ^1690 ; fines, di- 
vidends on st.)ck, &c., Sic. 

The City of Albany is governed by a 
.Mayor, Recorder, 8 Aldermen and 8 As- 
sistant Aldermen, denominated in the: 



GAZETTEKU OF NEW-YORK. 



121 



laws, * the Mayor, Aldermen and Com- 
iTionalty.' The Common Comic il must 
consist of 4 Aldermen, 4 Assistants, and 
the Mayor or Ilecorder, to be competent 
to tlie enacting- of laws. For the better 
administration of justice, the city is di- 
vided into 4 Wards, each of which elects 
2 Al'lcnnen and 2 Assistants, witli such 
other officers as are found necessary to 
.Die purposes of g-overnnieut. The .May- 
or, Recorder and Cierk, are annually ap- 
5)ointed by the Slate; and the election 
for th.e other Charter Officers is held an- 
nually on I he last Tuesday in September, 
in each Ward. The election f , .• Town- 
OfHcers, is held annually on the first 
Tuesday in Mdy, when 1 Supervisor, 2 
Assessors, 1 Collector and 2 Constables, 
for each Ward, are chosen by the inha- 
bitants, by ballot, in Town-Meeting-. — 
The Maj'or's Court is held in the Capi- 
tol, on the first Tuesday of every month, 
by the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, 
who ai-e styled * judg-es of the said 
court,' by law , 

There are many companies of Firemen, 
well reg-ulated, and well provided with 
engines and other means of effective ope- 
rations. But while a well timed vigi- 
lance guards against the ravages of the 
fire of the elements, it were well to 
check the destruction arising from that 
of the mind. A deplorable defect in the 
system of public guardianship exists 
somewhere, and the small groceries and 
shops that retail ardent and other spirits 
are so numerous as to call loudly for re- 
fprm.* 

As a manufacturing- town, Albany is 
entitled to a very respectable rank ; and 
among its various establishments con- 
nected with manufactures, the extensive 
Tobacco Works of Mr. James Caldwell, 
an eminent Merchant of this city, at- 
tract early notice. This manufactory is 
situated in the northern suburbs of Al- 
bany, about one mile from the Capitol, 
and in the township of Watervliet, near 
the mansion-house of the honorable Ste- 
phen Van Rensselaer, just at tlie foot of 
the river-hiU, and on the margin of mill- 
creek. It was first erected about 178j, 
and was the first considerable lobacco- 
manufactory in the L'nitcd States; but 
it was destroyed by fire in 1791, and 
immediately rebtiih. — again destroyed 
since, and again rebuilt, by its enter- 
prizing and nulefatigable founder. These 
works are now, and iuive been for seve. 
ral years, in very successful operation^ 

* See P'lge 36. 



employing a capital of 159,000 dollars, 
And about 60 persons. The biikUngs 
;uid yards occupy an acre of grrnmd ; 
and the machinery, which is very inge- 
nious and extensive, is all driven bv wa- 
ter, performing the whole operations 
with very little manual labor. Ever\ 
inanufacture of tobacco is carried on 
iiere, besides the making of chocolate 
and liulling of barley, to a great extip.f, 
and in a hig-h degTce of perfection.* — 
There are other tobacco manufactories 
here also, but on a much smaller scale. 

There are 3 Air-Furnaces in this c\i\\ 
whicii iurnish castings to a verj- g-reiit 
amount, and in an approved style of ex- 
cellence. The third one was erected in 
1812, and stands on the plain ^ mile W . 
of the Capitol, connected with vvhich is 
an extensive manufactory of machinerj' in 
wrought-iron aiid brass also, with black- 
smith's and other tools and implements 
of trades, husbandry, c4C.f — Of the vari- 
ous other kinds of manufactures and me- 
chanical estabiishmenis, I might take a 
Wide range of enumeration, but the bare 
list of names coidd serve no valuable 
purpose. But it may be said that, in 
the common arts and trades, this cit}"^ is 
very well supplied ; and there is little, 
difficulty in procuring skilful workmen 
or ingeniously wrought work in any of 
the branches of necessary mechanical in- 
dustry. Iron, brass, and other metals 
are extensively wrought, in vai-ious ways, 
and into a great variety of forms. Lea- 
ther is extensively manufactured, and 
there is a very considerable var-ety of 
nfcinufacturing in wood. In a port ofsc 
much trade, there is necessarily conside- 
rable shipping annually built, though 

* J\Ir. Caldwell sustained losses by va- 
rious fires, to the amount of 75,000 dolls, 
in 8 years, and ivho/ly declined the prof- 
fered contributions of his friends in the 
principal towns of America, generously 
sui-scribed without his knowledge, and to 
a very large amou.,t; — Jiobly coJifidivg in 
his own exertions to sustain his own losses, 
though fully sensible of tlie kindness thus 
designed fur him. The fitate granted hint 
a large loan of money on liheral terms, 
which lie accepted with gratitude, as he 
has also of some smaller benefits from his 
liberal friend and landlord, the opulent 
proprietor of the JMaiior of Jicnsselaer. 

■\ J\Ir. Rogers, a joint proprieor of 
these H'orks, is a practical JMechunic, of 
rare mechanical talents, deseming of pah' 
lie patronage. 



122 



GAZEITEER OF NEW- YORK. 



Albany sends no- manufactures of this 
fort to foreign markets. There is one 
distillery of spirits, and there are live 
lircweries that produce annually about 
10,000 barrels of beer. Tliere are four 
extensive tallow chandler's works, and 
about 25,000 hats of different descrip- 
tions are aiu-.ually made at 4 hat-manu- 1 
factories. ' 

To the south of Albany about 2 1-2 1 
niiles, oh the Norman's kill, are exten-, 
sire grain and sbme other mills ; and on! 
the north ai'e mills erected on mill-i 
rrcek, about one mile from the Capitol. I 

Among those of the finer arts, we may j 
{•inimera'te 5 printing-offices, 2 of whicli 
itre very extensive establisliments, and 
v.'ljich issue semi-weekly Gazettes. Con^ 
nccted with these are several large 
book-stores, and the printing, binding, 
&c. of books, is done in a very good 
style, and to a great amount. A manu- 
factory of looking-glasses must not be 
omitted, because useful, rare in this 
«.nDuntry, productive, and the work is 
well executed. Theplales only and the 
leaf for gilding are imported ; but a 
manufactory of leaf is about to be added 
to the establishment. l"he carving of 
the ornamental work in the S. Dutch 
Church, is an honor to the ingenuity of 
a self-taught artist ; and in engraving, 
Albany has a genius of the first order in 
America. In portrait-painting, we show 
tlie Gallery of Ames, and the evidences 
of a master-hand, fast rising to the high- 
est rank in his profession. 

The Reading-Hoom established by Mr< 
Cook, is an eleg'ant convenience, yet in 
a promising- infancy, where are to be 
found a library of select books, the pub- 
lic journals, domestic and foreign, a ma- 
nuscript journal of the times ; and the 
t-elebrated Medicinal waters of Sarato- 
j;'a, fresh from the fountains and in ex- 
cellent order. 

Tiie Museum of Mr. Trowbridge, kept 
in the 3d story of the old City-llall, is a 
large collection of the productions of 
nature and art, and only wants a proper 
d)si)lay and arrangement, to give it the 
third if not the second rank among 
collections of this kind in America. — 
Nor must the public Garden of Mr. 
Buckmaster in the Colonic be omitted, 
or his zealous attempts to render it a 
pleasing resort for an evening entertain- 
ment. 

But in this survey of Albany, we must 
not forget the elegant conveniences af- 
forded by steam-navigation on the Hud- 
son. Tliere ai-c now 3 Steam-Boats em- 



ployed on this river, between Albany 
and New- York, (the largest of which is 
170 feet long and 28 wide, its burthen 
330 tons,) which perform their passages 
to Albany in the average time of 30 to 
36 hours. Their periods are very regu- 
lar and unifoi-m, and they have excel- 
lent accommodations, being designed for 
passengers exclusively.* And, indepen- 
dent of the novelty and uigcnuity of the; 
mode, unknown in Europe, the dispatch, 
certainty of tiine and entire security, 
with the perfect conveniency and easd 
with which we pass go rapidly from 
place to jolace, we enjoy tlie proud rc- 
Hection that the invention is American > 
— and that no other portion of the world 
enjoys such facilities of intercourscf — 
There is also a Steam-Boat constantly 
running between this cit}' and Troy, for 
the accommodation of passengers, per- 
forming 4 passages every 24 hours. The 
public Stages are very numerous that 
centre in Albany ; and the facilities 
wliicii these aflfbrd of travelling by land, 
correspond with the importance of the 
place and the intercourse with every 
part of the country. The line for Urica, 
runs through every day ; for New-York 
in 2 days ; for Burlington in Vermont, 
in 2 da}s ; and there are stages foj' eve- 
ry part of the counti-y, with little dela) 
of conveyance. 

The Society of the Albanrf Lihrary. is 
of long standing, and there is also a So- 
ciety of the .4/6a7j7/ Water ArorA"*, besides 
many others connected with Manufac- 
tui-es. Turnpikes and other pecuniary 
enterprizes, a ver3' large amount of ca- 
pital being so vested. 

The City of Albany has a School on 
the plan of the Benevolent Lancaster, 
first established by individual zeal to do 
good, patronised by the Corporation, 
and ultimately by the State, and now 
pretty liberally endow cd. I'he Compa- 
ny was incorporated in 1812, and intends 



* They leave Albany on stated days, one 
on each tVednesday, tatuvday and Jifon- 
day, at 9 o'clock, A. JM. ; avel Ae-iV-Vork 
every succeeding!' Saturday, Tuesday and 
Tliurnduy, at 5 o'clock, P. JM., in the same 
order. I'assage and board, 7 dollars each 
•ii-ay. 

■j- Could the bold and intrepid Hudson 
have known -,vhat 2 Cviitwies -icoultl pro- 
duce on the ne-ii)!y discovered -vaters -wMch 
his little Boat frst explored ».« 1608, ho-!0 
ivould his heart hare glowed with grcai 
emotions ! 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



123 



soon to erect a suitable buildings for the 
School, which is now kept In the Me- 
chanic Hall. This is a very useful insti- 
tution, liumancly designed for the more 
g-eneral diffusion of the blessings of 
learning- to all classes of people ; and its 
i'ounders and patrons deserve well of the 
rising generation. It is good to lay in 
such claims to the gratitude of posterity. 

There are many humane and other So- 
cieties ; and the Ladies' Society main- 
tains a Woman's School, in which are 
educated 25 to 40 poor girls, with admi- 
rable economy. They are clothed alike, 
at the expense of the Society, instructed 
in useful industry, and form a very plea- 
sing spectacle to the heart of bencTo- 
lence. There is also a Hwr.ane Socieli/, 
a JHec/iaiiics' iiociety, a Bible Society, a 
Bible and Common /■'ruyer-Book Society, 
a St. Andreius Society, several Free-Mu- 
so7is' Societies, a Washin^lon Beuevoletit 
Society, and several others less known. 

Albany is not yet distinguished for its 
public walks, and elegant promenades, 
those usual lounging- elegancies of great 
cities — but its suburbs display conside- 
rable of individual taste and opulence in 
the Gardens of the wealthy inhabitants. 
Among those that of Mr. James Kane is 
entitled to eminent notice, and a taste 
for this kind of useful elegance is happi- 
ly increasing. 

The first settlement of this city was 
made by some Hollanders about 1612, 
and next to Jamestown in Virginia, it is 
the oldest settlement in the United 
States ; and in 1614 a tempoi-ary fort 
was erected. Fort Orange was built 
about 1623. Albany received its Char- 
ter in 1686. And ii is worthy of remark 
that this city was enclosed by a Stock- 
ade defence against the Indians about 
1745, when there were 6 block-houses 
erected, the last of which with the last 
remaining vestige of that work, was de- 
stroyed by fire in the summer of 1812. 
See the General View for otlier historic 
notices, as 1 have already exceeded the 
intended limits of my plan. See also 
Albany County, 

Albany is situated in N. Latitude 42° 
39', W. Longitude 73" 32' from London, 
and 16' E. Longitude from the city of 
New- York. It is about 394 miles troni 
Quebeck, 23U from Montreal, 257 from 
Philadelphia, 404 from Washington City, 
220 from Niagara-Falls, 171 irom Cos- 
ton, 664 from Detroit, and^l73 from Dur- 
Jington in "\crnirnl, 



Alfred, a Township In the S.E. corner 
of Allegany Co., bounded N. by Ossian, 
E. Ijy Steuben County, S. by the State of 
Pennsylvania, W. by Angelica. It com- 
prises townships No. 1, 2, 3 and 4, in 
the 7th Range of Phelps and Gorham'n 
purchase ; and, occupying the dividing- 
ridges, sends small sti-cams both to the 
Genesee river of Lake Ontario, and the 
Tioga river of the Susquehanna. The 
extensive tract included within the 
Town of Alfred, has of course a con- 
siderable diversity of cliaracter ; but the 
whole may be called a good tract of 
farming land, and it is very well watci'- 
ed by small streams and springs of ex- 
cellent water. Emigrants from the nortli- 
ern parts of Vermont and New-Hamp- 
shire, would find the general character 
of the county of Allegany peculiarl) well . 
adapted for their views and wishes. For 
I have seen that migration, which has 
im])rovement of situation for its object, 
inclines rather to improved slniilarit}', 
tlian to a full dissimilarllj' of character, 
in the choice of countiy. The ]joi)ula- 
tion of this Town in 1810, was 273. — 
Hoiids are opened, and the country is 
last filling up with inhabitants. The 
centre of this Town is about 10 miles 
S. E. of Angelica, the Capital of the 
county. J I. W. 

A:(n:xiA, a Post-Township of Dutchess 
County, situated in the N.E. part there- 
of, 24 miles N. oi Poughkeepsie ,• bound- 
ed iV. by the Town of Northeast, E. by 
tlie State of Connecticut, S. by Dover, 
W. by St:uiford and a part of Washing- 
ton. This township is about 12 miles 
long N. and S., with a medial width of 
4§ miles, and comprises the width of 
the Oblong tract, and the east tier of 
lots in the Great Nine Partners. In 
1711, Kichard Sacket and family lived 
on this tract, and continued the only 
white family till 1724, when Ulrlc or 
Oliver Winegar removed thitlier ii'om 
the German Camp in Livingston's Ma- 
nor, with a few other families. But 
tlie improvements were very small till 
1741, when several families came from 
Connecticut. The population In 1789 
was 2070; in 1810 it was 3i;73, when 
there were 309 Senatorial Electors, and 
the wiiole taxable property was \alued 
at 521,068 dollars. There were then 4 
grain-mills, 4 distilleries, 6 tanner's 
works, 1 -caiding-machine and 1 trlp- 
hamm.er ; and the domestic stock on 
farms amounted to 3332 of sheep, 825 
horses, and 2825 neat cattle. Until 1761, 



124 



GAZEI TEER OF NEM-YOEK. 



this Town was part of the then Crom- 
Elbow precinct, when it was erected into 
a separate one, and in 1788, (on the new 
organization,) into a Township of its 
present name. The surface of this tract 
is considerably broken by ranges of hills 
extending N. eastward from the High- 
lands. Some lofty und rugged summits 
of these are designated Great Oblong- 
Mountain, Kent Mountain, and West 
Mountain, which with their bases occu- 
py nearly one third of the whole area 
with unarable land. There are 3 small 
natural ponds, which cover about 3 or 
400 acres : Chalk -pond. Round-pond and 
Indian-pond, a part of which is in Con 
iiecticut. The streams are Obh)ng creek 
or Wecbotuck, near the E. border, and 
Wassaic or Steel Works creek, a small- 
er branch from the western part of the 
ToMn,ail watersof theHousatonic of Con- 
necticut, and but small mill-streams. — 
There are 4 Meeting-Houses for Presby- 
terians, and a competent number oi 
small school-houses. Mai ble, of a supe- 
rior quality, is found in this Tov.n, and 
there are some sm;<U mineral springs oi 
little note. Ii is said by my Correspon- 
dents, that the farmers of Amenia pos- 
sess more of agricultural opulence than 
any other town in Dutchess County. 

E.B.&.kp. 

AMSTr.nnAM, a Post-Township of Mont- 
gomery County, on the N. shore of the 
Mohawk ; bounded N. by Mayfield and 
Broadalbin, E. by Saratoga and Schencc 
tady Counties, S. by Mohawk river or 
tlie'ToM-n of Florida, W. by Johnstown. 
It extends about 10 miles along the Mo- 
hawk, and from 5 to 7 miles back Irom 
that river. The soil is of various quali- 
ties, though generally rich and fertile. 
The alluv^ial lands along the Mohawk 
arc proverbially rich, and the uplands 
are principally a rich tenacious mold or 
l(^ani. Chuctenunda creek, a fine mill- 
stream from Saratoga County, enters at 
the N. E. angle of Amsterdam, and runs 
S. W. to the Mohawk. This stream falls 
120 feet, within 100 rods from its mouth, 
where it supplies abundance of the best 
sites for mills, several of whicli are im- 
proved. Here is the extensive Iron ma- 
nufactory of S. and A. Waters, where 
mill-sav.'s, mill-irons and grass scythes 
arc annually manul'actiu-cd and sold to 
the amount of 8 to 10,000 dollars. This 
cstablislunent cost ^"J^tlO, and its enter- 
priiiing pvoprietoi-s have obtained a high 
reputation for their wares. They sell 
about 6000 grass-scythes annually. — 



There are in all 5 grain, 4 saw-mills, 2 
carding machines, 2 fulling-mills, 2 oil- 
mills, and a trip hammer on this stream, 
besides the abftve manufactory. The 
Mohawk turnpike leads thi-ough Amster- 
dam, and the other roads are sufficient!}- 
numerous. On the turnpike, near the 
mouth of Chuctenunda creek, is a small 
collection of houses called .Ivnittrilain 
or Veddersburgh, where is the Post-Of- 
fice, a Presbyterian Church, a school- 
house, ~5 dwellings, and some stores, 
mechanics' fhops, mills, ?cc. This Vil- 
lage is 15 miles from Schenectady, and 
30 about N. W. from Albany. Another 
Pi-esb3'terian Church stands 3 miles E. 
of this place. The inhabitants of this 
Town are of German, Scotch, and Eng- 
lish descent, with considerable numbers 
of Yunkees or recent emigrants from the 
Eastern Slates. The population ui '810, 
3U39 ;•• taxable property valued ixt 272,- 
714 dollars by the Assessors. 

D. W. C, & S. & A. W. 

A KGELiCA, a Post-Township, and the ca- 
pital of Allegany County ; bounded N. by 
Nunda, E. by Alfred, S. on the line of 
Pennsylvania, W. by Caneadea. It com- 
prises 10 townships of land, immediately 
E. of the Transit line, and is about 28 
miles long N. and S., and 11 wide. The 
Genesee river which rises in Pennsylva- 
nia, runs across 5 of the Townships that 
compose the present Town of Angelica ; 
and by the richness and fertility of its 
alluvial flats, adds immensely to the va- 
lue of this tract. A turnpike road has 
been opened between Angelica and Bath, 
the capital of Steuben Ccunty. There 
are plenty of mill-sites, and the whole 
will form an excellent farming countiy. 
—The timber is principally deciduous, 
with some evergreens. 'I'he settlement 
commenced in j804, and the population 
in 1810, was 439, with o5 Senatorial 
Electors. 

The Village of ^lugelica, where are 
held the courts for the county, is situat- 
cil on a branch of the Genesee, 2 miles 
E. of that river, in the northern part of 
the town of Angelica. This Village is 
40 miles W. of Uaih, 52 nearly S. of Ba- 
lavia, and 2S5 W. of Albany. H. W. 

AxTWEHp, a large Township in the N.E. 
extremity of Jellt rson Co., 170 miles from 
Albany, on the post route from Utica to 
St Lawrence Co., where is a w£ekly 
iVfail. This Township is about 12 by 8 
miles, bounded N. by St. Lawrence Co., 
E. by Lewis Co., S. and W. by Le llay 
— jrcctcd m 1810 from Le Uay- The 



GAZEITEER OF NEW-YORK. 



125 



surface is uneven, but not mountainous, 
and a considerable portion of the whole 
is good land, excellent for ^ass, and 
very well watered. Indian river, runs 
through a part of this Town, and there 
are some other small streams, and some 
small natural ponds that afford pan-fish. 
This Town was first setl;lcd about 1807, 
by people from the Eastern States. — 
'I'he post.road from Utica to St. Law- 
rence, lies through ilijs town, about S'or 
10 miles, alontj which are the settle- 
ments. A saw-mill, a grain-mill, and a 
whiskey mill, or distillery, and one store, 
mark the present extent of those im- 
provements ; but the inhabitants are in- 
dustrious, and abound in Yankee perse- 
verance. The population of Antwerp, 
is included in that of he Ray, in the cen- 
sus of 1810, which amounts to 1150 ; 
and a well-informed Correspondent com- 
putes that of Antwerp, at 350. The 
post-office in this town, is kept at the 
great-bend of Indian river — and, with In 
di.an allusion, named Oxbow P. O. : It is 
J80 miles about N. \V. from Albany. 

M.K. 
Argyle, a Post-Township of Was!>- 
inijton County, 5 miles S. of Sandy-Hill 
and 45 N. of Albany, on the F,. b:»nk ■; 
Hudson river, containing' 3 post offices \ 
one at the village of Fort- £f/wart/, one at 
Fort-Millep village, and one in the villatje 
of Argyle. It is bounded N. by Kings- 
bury, E. by Salem, and Hebron, S. b\ 
Greenwich, VV. by Hudson rtTer, which 
separates it from Moreau and Northum- 
berland, in the Co. of Saratoga, being a- 
bout 9 miles square. This tract was 
fir.st granted by K. Geo. II. in 1742, to 
141 emigrants from Scotland, each of 
whom drew a farm-lot of 150 to 600 a- 
cres, and a town-lot, {Town on the plan,) 
of 15 to 60 acres. Argyle, is one of the 
original towns, organized by the act of 
March 7, 1773. It now contains, 1810, 
386 electors, and about 500 taxable in- 
habitants ; the whole population, 3813. 
'i'he village of Fort Edward, is situa- 
ted in the N. W. corner of the Town. 
,ind that of Fort Miller, in the S. W 
turner, as also, Fovt Miller Falls; tho' 
llic Fort of that name stood on the W. 
sideof the river. See those places. The 
Patent of Argylc, and Bayard's Patent. 
iy'ng between the Scotch Patent and the 
Hudson, are comprised within the present 
b-iundaries of Argyle. There are 2 gr»od 
hous^^.s f )r public worship, belonging to 
the Scotch Presbyterians, with settle 
'-•'.inistcrsineachjundthe common school 



are well supported. The soil in the W. 
tnd N W. part, is principally clay, and 
level ; in the other part, being higher 
trround, gravelly, and somewhat hilly. 
There are some small mineral springs, 
of little celebrity, iho' one small one is 
said to possess nearly the same qualities 
as the Ballston water. I have no ac- 
count of an analysis. There are several 
small lakes or ponds, the largest b.-ing* 
only three miles long ; and some small 
mill streams. Argyle has 4 grain-mills, 
9 saw-mills, 2 carding machines, 1 ful- 
ling-mill, and is well supplied with com- 
mon mechanics. Iron ore, of the bog- 
kind, is found at Fort-Edward, and a 
slate quany has lately been opened, of 
good promise. A liandsome little vil* 
!age, called Argyle, is centrally situa- 
ted at the junction of 4 roads, and adds 
much to the beauty of this town. 

A.M.H. 

Attica, a Township of Genesee 
County, 20 miles S. of Bataviu; houniicd 
N. by Batavia, E. by Warsaw, S. by 
Allegany County, \V. by Sheldon, from 
whicli it was erected in 1811. It com- 
prises 3 Townships of the Holland Com- 
pany Purchase ; Nos. 8, 9, and 10, of 
lie 2d. Range. Tonnewanta ci-eek ris- 
es in the S., and runs N. along the W. 
line, and there are somt small waters 
that form the head branches of Allan's 
creek of Genesee river. Tlie land is 
'<aid to be good in general, with a great 
diversity of soil. The S. is considera* 
bly broken, and Correspondents say it 
IS subject to frosts that injure the fruit, 
;.nd sometimes the crops of grain also. 
The general surface is elevated, Iknow 
not what is the present population ; and 
as is usual in such cases, conjectures 
are very vague and wild. The whole 
population of Sheldon in 1810, was 1415, 
with 235 senatorial electors : and its 
taxable property apiounted to 221,850 
dollars. K.S. N.T. 

Augusta, a Township in the S. "W. 
corner of Oneida Co., bounded N. by Ver- 
non, E. by Paris, .S. by Madison in Mad- 
ison Co., W. by New-Slockbridge. It 
IS about 7 miles E. and W.. and 6 N. and 
S., and includes nearly half of the tract 
of land 6 milea- square, called N'ew- 
Stockbridge, owned by the Stockbridge 
Indians. The Oriskany, Oneida, and 
Skanando creeks, each furnish improv- 
ed mill-seats in this town, and on which 
are now erected 4 grist-mills, 8 sawy 
mills, 2 fulling-mills, and 2 carding- 
amachir.es. From the Oneida rrcet;, 



126 



GAZETTEER OF NEWYORK. 



there is a p-adual ascent of surface east- 
ward, aboHt 2 and an half miles, tliencc 
descending' about the same distance to 
the Skanando, and thence risini? to the 
east line with gentle swells aad concav- 
ities, well watered by sprinE^s and 
rivulets ; and the whole may be pro- 
Jiounced an excellent medium soil for 
either grain or g'rass. With the excep- 
tion of the Indian part, the whole is di- 
vided into farm-lots of 50 'to 100 acres, 
and mostly settled and under improve- 
ment. The Oriskany, waters the S. W. 
corner of this Town. Aui;:usta was first 
settled in 1794; and contained 2004 in- 
)iab tants, and 350 Sen. Electors in 1810. 
Tiiere is but 1 meeting-house, with a 
pretty large society of Congregational- 
ists ; — ll'.e Town contains 10 school- 
hot'.ses. The most of the land was pur- 
chased of the State at an early period, 
by actual scltler.s, and a considerable 
proportion is now under mortgage to the 
state for some remaining portlou of the 
purchase money. S. C. 

AvAET-ius, a Post-Township, the 
capital of Cayuga County, situated be- 
tween the Cayuga and Owasco lakes on 
the great road to the western country, 
175 ""miles westward of Albany. It is 
bounded N. by Mcntz and Brutus, E. by 
Brutus and Owasco, S. by Scipio, W. 
by Cayuga lake and outlet, or by Seneca 
County. In population and wealth, this 
town takes the third rank in the county, 
and it has 3 post-offices,— Aurelius, 
Cayuga, and Union Springs, which 
see. This town contains 765 fami- 
lies, has a population of 4642, 323 Sena- 
torial Electors, and the taxable proper- 
ty was valued at ^204.885 in 1810— 
Tliere are no considerable sti-eams ex- 
cept the outlets of the Cayuga and Owas- 
co lakes, the latter of which I'uns across 
the N. Eastern part of this Town. The 
inhabitants are principally employed in 
agriculture, and n\any of them enjoy a 
gVeat degree of opulence. It is hardly 
possible to conceive a more enviable sit- 
uation than theirs, thus blessed in a most 
delightful country. The great road from 
Albiuiy to the Western counties, leads 
centrally E. and W. across this town. — 
On this'turnpike, stands the elegant vil- 
hige of AuBi'KN, the capital of tlie coun- 
ty, on the outlet of the Owasco lake, near 
tiie eastern boundary of the Township of 
Aurelius. Tliis village contains 100 
houses and stores, with many elegant 
private mansions, the coimty buildings, 
ttitd a cuiisideiabic nurabei- of mills, man- 



ufactories, &c.&c.-^See Auburn. Pur- 
suing tills road westward, to the Cayu- 
ga lake, we come to the Village of Cay- 
uga, which was erected while the bridge 
across this lake was standing, immedi- 
ately on the bank of the lake at the E, 
end of the bridge. This village has a- 
bout 40 houses, and a post -office called 
Cayuga, 179 miles from Albany. Cay- 
uga bridge, erected across Cayuga lake 
at the expense of 20,000 dollars, was 1 
mile in length including the abutments. 
But it was unfortr.nately destroyed in 
March, 1807, and has not been rebuilt. 
A ferry is i-evived across the lake, and 
a road is opened, by the old Bridge com- 
pany, around the N. end of Cayuga lake, 
much to the injury, as it is said, of the 
villages on the bridge road. This Town- 
ship comprises a part of the military 
Township of Aurelius, and a part of the 
former Cayuga Reservation tract. 

J.A,.H.B..&D.T. 
Avo7t, a Post-Township of Ontario 
County, 21 miles W. of Canandaigua, 
bounded N. by Boyle, E. by Bloomfield 
and Lima, S. by Geneseo and Livonia, 
W. by the Genesee river or the County 
of Gene see. It comprises 2 Townships, 
10 and 11, in the 7th Range, and is 12 
miles long on the river, and 6 miles 
wide. This Town, which is situated 
on the Geneseeriver, and through which 
lies tlie great central road to Buffalo, 
contains a body of land which yields in 
fertility to none in the western country. 
The former name of this town was 
Hartford, which was charged to Avon in 
1808. The surface is agreeably undula- 
ted, and the uplands are well w^atered 
by small streams and springs. The Gen- 
esee river empties into Lake Ontario, 
28 miles N. of Avon, but its navigation 
is obstructed by high falls near its mouth. 
From the head of these, 6 miles from 
the lake, the batteau navigation is good 
to Avon, 19 rnilcs, and continues so tor 
20 miles above. From its mouth to with- 
in 1 mile of the falls, it is navigable for 
vessels of 100 tons. The products of 
this Town, are those common to the 
county, and in great abundance. Tiie 
alluvial flats are very extensive and fer- 
tile. "There is avery remarkable bulbous 
root that grows on the Genesee flats, 
lying like a log in tiie earth, 3 or 4 feet 
in lengtii and from 6 to 8 inclies in diam- 
eter, from which grows a small creep- 
ing vine like that of the strawberry ; 
and the natural vegetable productionb 
are almost infniitel^ various." There 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOKK. 



127 



is a sulphur spring in this town, which 
is also strongly impregnated with alum, 
and fine samples of clays are found. 
With 1 grain, and 5 saw-mills, there 
fire 5 or 6 distilleries of grain and fruit 
spirits, and 1 carding machine and cloth- 
ier's works. The only mill-streams are, 
the outlets of the Honeoy and Canesus 
lakes, which empty into the Genesee 
M'ithin this Town, about 6 miles apart. 
A small pond of a singular form de- 
seirves notice as a curiosity. It is situa- 
ted on the Genesee flats, is nearly 2 
miles in length, almost describing an 
irregular circle, which is cut by a pro- 
jecting point of high grourtd that ex- 
pands within the circle alid occupies 
the centre, on which are the rem.^ins of 
Indigenal improvements in former times. 
The settlement of this Town commen- 
ced in 1790, by 5 families, from Farm- 
ington in Connecticut, tiie sole propri- 
etors, by purchase from Phelps and Gor- 
ham. Lands are held in fee simple and 
the inhabitants are principally farmers. 
The population in 1810 was 1880, and 
there were then 151 Senatorial Electors. 
'There were also 76 looms, and 21325 
yards of woollen, linen and cotton cloths 
manufactured in families. Avon is 28 
miles E. of Batavia, the Capital of Gen- 
esee County. G.H.&J.C.S, 

Abrams' Creek, enters the E. shore 
of Hudson river, about 4 miles above 
the city of Hudson, and is formed of 
Claverackand Kinderhook creeks, whicli 
unite about a half mile from the mouth. 
These streams are excellent for mills. 
See Columbia County, p. 70, and the 
above streams. 

AccoBONucK, and Ammagansett, 
see Easthampton. 

Adgates' Falls, see Chester- 

riELD. 

Adiq.uatangue, or Charlotte 
river, one of the N. E. branches of the 
Susquehanna, forming a part ofthe boun- 
daries of Oteego and Delaware counties. 

Aelplaats Kill, rises in Galway, 
and runs S. about 12 miles through 
Charlton and Schenectady to the Mo- 
hawk. See Charlton. 

Allan's Cueek, rises in the S. end 
of Genesee County, and runs N. andE. 
:i devious course of near 40 miles, to 
Genesee river, \yiiich it enters in the 
Town of Caledonia. It is a very good 
stream for mills, and flows through a 
rich and fertile tract of land. Its name, 
is said to be from Indian Allan, Who had 
a^ii establishment hercj from which he 



committed his many depredations and 
robberies and murders on the frontier 
settlements. I.5I.T. 

Allegatcv River, of the Ohio, ris- 
es in Fennsylvaniu, and turning N. en- 
ters Cataraugus County near the S. E. 
corner, whence it curves westward and 
runs near 45 miles in that county, leav- 
ing it and the State of New-York in the 
S. W. corner of Cataraiigus County. 
It is boatahle the whole distance through 
this county, in w^hich it receives sever- 
al streams, for which see Olean, and 
Cataraugus County. 

Allegany County, see pa.ge 61. 

Alluvial Way, or Ridge Road, 
which see. 

Alexanduia, see Fairfield. 

Amity, see Warwick. 

Ancram, or RoELEEF Jansen's 
Creek, see Columbia County. 

Ancram Works, see Gallatin. 

Anxe, Fort, now wholly in ruins, 
frequently mentioned in the History of 
the Revolution, was within the present 
Town of Fort- Anne, Washington Co. 
It stood at the head of Batteau navi- 
gation on Wood creek, 7 miles S. W. 
of Skenesborough Fort, 10 S.E. of Fort- 
George, 12 N. E. of Fort-Edward. From 
this Fort, the Army of Burgoyne ad- 
vanced, in July 1777, with very great 
diiliculty to Fort-Edward, and thence 
to Stilhvater. See Fort-Anne, Town- 
ship. 

Anthony's Kill, or creek, rises 
in Ballston, the outlet of Long, and 
Round, lakes, a good mill-strcain that 
enters the W. bank ofthe Hudson about 
8 miles N. of Wateribrd, forming the 
line between Halfmoon and Stillwater. 

Anthony's Nose, is a name by 
wlr.ch tlie summits of several mountains 
are known, as one on tho N. side of the 
Moliawk, 30 miles above Schenectady; 
one in the vicinity of Lake Geo'.'ge, and 
several others of little note, except tliose 
which follow. 

Anthony's, or St. Anthony's Nose, 
a bold promontory of a mountain oi' the 
Highlands, on the E. shore of tlie Huu- 
son, being 1128 feet elevated from ti.c 
river. Its name is derived from a ludi- 
crous resemblance of a huge h'.miau 
face, as seen from the river. The rock 
which has this appearance, exhibits a 
good profile of a face of 32 iect, aided 
by a little fancy and a relish for tho mar- 
vellous. A tree which grov/s upon the 
nose, just reaches the hcightof the eyes, 
and kindly spreads its branches for the 



i-2'6 



OAZETTE^R OF NEW-YOUK. 



eye-brows of the Saint. This is on the 
S. side of Breakneck-hill, at the N. en- 
trance of the Higlilands, 60 miles N. 
of New-York. There is also another, 
though less remarkable promontory, of 
Ihe same name, opposite the site of Fort 
Montgomery, 5 miles below West- 
Point. 

Anyocheca, or Onyocheca, a small 
ci*eek that rises in Genesee County, and 
runs N. to Lake Ontario, after a Course 
of about 20 miles. 

AP0Q.UAGUE, see Beekman. 

Apple Town, see Romulus. 

AQ.UEB0GUE, see RiVERHEAD. 

Aries Kill, a small stream that 
vises in Charleston, Montgomery Co , 
and enters the S. bank of the Mohawk, 
2 and an half miles above the mouth of 
Schoharie creek. 

Ark Port, see Canisteo. 

Athens, a flourishing Post-Village 
on the VV. bank of the Hudson, opposite 
Hudson city, 5 miles above the Village 
of Catskill, principally in the Township 
of Catskill, Greene County, and 28 
siiles S. of Albany. It is incorporated 
as a Village, under the government of a 
Board of Trustees, and embraces an 
extent of 1^ mile along the river and 
about the same distance back. The site 
of this place is pleasant, on a gentle 
slope toward the river, and the situation 
is very eligible for trade. This is with- 
in 4 miles of the head of ship-navigation, 
the shore of the Hudson is bold, its 
channel close in shore, and the soil, 
principally a light sand or sandy or grav- 
elly loam, and very excellent for the site 
of a large Town. A small part of the 
area, as incorporated, is within the town- 
ship of Coxackie. Its intercourse with 
the surrounding country is facilitated by 
numerous roads, and its trade is of aus- 
picious promise. Athens has now 150 
Louses, and contains near 1000 persons, 
including all descriptions. It has 1 Lu- 
theran Church, 3 school-houses, and a 
market-house ; an extensive rope-walk, 
a large distillery, a pottery of stone- 
ware, a tallow-chandlery, and some oth- 
er soiall manufactories. There are 8 
vessels employed in the trudo on the 
Hudson, and considerable shipping is 
annually built here. This place was 
formerly called Luiienburgh, Esperanza, 
and finally Athens, by act of incorpora- 
tion. Tlic very great extent of back- 
country thill must always pour its sur- 
plus products into the trading towns in 
this vicinity, will pi^oduce in time a 



great city near the head of ship-navlga. 
tion ; and Athens kas a commanding 
position. C.S,&j.A. 

Attlebury, see Stanford. 

AuiuRN, a flourishing Fost-Village, 
the capital of Cayuga county, situated 
in the Township of AitreHiti, 170 miles 
westward of Albany, on tiie great Wes- 
tern I'urnpike. This Village has been 
principally built within 6 years, and 
contains 100 houses and stores, a court •• 
house and jail for the county, and a 
great many mills, manufactories, &c. 
Its situation is very pleasant, immedi- 
ately on the outlet of the Owasco lake, 
a fine stream with falls and abundance 
of mill-seats. S. G. 

Augusta WorIcs, see Munroe. 

Aurora, a J'ost-Vlllage of SciPio, 
Cayuga County, 16 miles S. W. of Jiu- 
burn and 105 from Albany. It is finely 
situated on the E. shore of Cayuga lake, 
has an Academy, a small Library and 
about 50 houses. D. T. 



BALLSTOJV, a Post -Township, the 
capital of Saratoga County, 28 miles 
Northerly of Albany; bounded N. by 
Milton, E. by Malta, S. by Half-Moon, 
and a small part of Schenectady County ; 
W. by Charlton. Its extent is about e- 
qual to 5 miles square. The Township 
of Ballstown was erected in 1788, by tlie 
general act of organization, and was 
then in Albany County. Its name is de- 
rived Irom an early inhabitant, a Mr. 
Ball, who settled here in 1769 ; and it 
was changed to Hallston in 1792. 'Jhe 
Mourn Kill, a small mill-stream, curves 
Eastward across the Northern part, to- 
wards the Kayadeross creek; and 
Long Lake, a natural pond of near 4 
miles in length and 90 rods wide in some 
places, extends from the S. line toward 
the N. E. part, a little S. E. of the centre 
of the Town. This pond has an outlet, 
on which are mills. A dreary marsh of 
considerable extent, extends from the 
lower end of this lake along the outlet, 
which, from Ballston, pas.ses eastward 
througii Malta, to the round lake, thence 
to the Hudson on the South boundary of 
Stillwater. These streams supply a 
scanty number of Mills, and there is al- 
so a small furnace, with 1 or 2 distille- 
ries. The general surface of Ballston 
is that of an elevated plain country, and 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



129 



tnay be denominated an open champaij^n, 
agreeably undulated with swells ot" a 
moderate height. The soil is pi-ineipal- 
ly a strong gravelly loam, with some 
tracts of sand and of clay. In some parts 
the loamy tracts are very stony, but 
taken together tlie land is product- 
ive, and yields grain or grass, though 
grass is the most natural. For apple 
orchards it is very excellent, and the 
fruit is of the best quality for cider. — 
The forest trees are of a lofty growtji, 
and embrace a very great variety of 
kinds. The loamy lands have decidu- 
ous trees ; and elm, ash, walnut, oak, 
maple, beech, birch, and basswood,seem 
scattered in indiscriminate mixture, as 
if all foimd a choice of soil on the same 
spot. There are some groves of hem- 
lock in the N. part, on a hard-pan of Ibr- 
bidding aspect ; and pine is principally 
confined to the sandy plains or the mar.-sb- 
es, th.ough it slightly speckles the groves 
of deciduous trees. Some of the swcibi 
of the highest hills rise with a gentle 
ascent, arable throughout, till their stim- 
mits may be 200 feet above Long Lake. 
And from these the view is extensive, and 
elegantly picturesque. On the E. the 
Vermont mountains lift their lofty heads 
ani bound a distant view ; on the N. are 
ihose of Lake George ; the distant Cats- 
bergs in the S. surmount the nearer 
Helderbergs, and the eye embraces, 
from a moderate elevation, an extent and 
distinctness of view seldom equalled. — 
The farms, farm-houses, fields and for- 
ests of the intermediate plains and hills 
invite to nearer viev/, and give a lively 
interest to perspective. Nor are these 
remarks so peculiarly applicable to Ball- 
9ton, that other towns in the same vicin- 
ity deserve no similar detail. 

The inhabitants are principally farm- 
ers, of plain domestic habits, possessing 
the blessmgs of industry, temperance 
und frugality. Much of their clothing 
js the joint product of their farms and 
houses, the most honorable to farmers 
of any that can be worn. The lands are 
held by right of soil. The roads are too 
numerous to be good, and are principal- 
ly coniined to right lines, tlie boimdaries 
of surveys. That in the centre, leading 
N. & S. is called the middle-line-road; 
and there are I'oads on the E. and \V. 
lines of the Township, called the E. and 
W. line-roads. There are in this Town 
1 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, I Pres- 
byterian, 1 Methodist and 2 Baptist 
Meeting Houses. There is also an A* 



cademy, and about 23 school-h.ouses. — 
There are two small Villages in this 
town, besides a small part of that of 
Ballston-Spa ; one at the Court-House, 
on the middle line road, 2 miles from B. 
Spa, where are the County buildings, 
and about- 25 houses and stores, which 
is chilled Ballslon Village ; and also Sav- 
atogaVillagCjfrom the rameof the Coun- 
ty; — and another at the Academy and 
Town-House, which was formerly occi- 
pied by Pari>on Ball and his Congrega- 
tion as a house of VVorsJiip. This is al- 
so called Ballston Viiiagc, and hns nu 
academy, a post-office, and 20 to SO liou- 
ses, stores, &c. It is situated on tlie 
Lake road, 2^ miles S. E. of tlie former. 
The Village of BulhionSpa, is incorpo- 
rated, and includes the Springs of Bull' 
sio?i, as known abroxid, thongli situated 
m Milton, as is the most of that Vil- 
lage, wiiich see. 

The population of .lallston in ISIO, 
2155, and 273 seniitorial electors, when 
the taxable properly was assessed at the 
valuation of about 500,000 dollars. — 
The first settlements in this town were 
made in 1763, by 2 brothers of the name 
of M'Donald, from Ireland, one of 
whom is now living. The inhabitants 
suffered much in the Colonial wars, as 
did they also in that of the Revolution. 
J.H.,A.A.,&B.C.S. 

Batavia, a Post-Townsliip, the cap- 
ital of Genesee County, 256 miles fibm 
Albany, on the great road to Buffalo ; 
bounded N. by Lake Ontario, E. by 
Murray and Caledonia, S. by Warsaw, 
Attica and. Sheldon, W. by Niagara 
County. It is about 50 miles in length 
N. and S., and 24 to 28 miles wide, in- 
cluding all that part of Genesee countv 
j lying W. and N. of Township No. 11, in 
the 1st Range of the I-h)lland Purchase. 
It is watered by Oak Orchard and Ony- 
ocheca creeks, with 1 or 2 others tha': 
run N. to Lake Ontario ; and by Ton- 
newanta creek in the S. which runs W. 
to Niagara river. Sidphur Spring and 
EUicott's creek are also in the S. VV., 
branches of the Tonnewanta. This ex- 
tent necessarily embraces a great varie- 
ty of land, and as it will srton be divi- 
ded into several Towns, detailed de- 
scription would be of little use. The 
Tonnewanta Reservation is principally 
in this Town, as i.s the Tonne wr.nla vil- 
lage, on the creek of the same name. 
The land in the S. Eastern part, which 
will probably retain the name of Batavia, 
M comprising the village of that namsj 



130 



GAZETTEER OF J^EW-YORK. 



M'hen this large Town shall be divided, 
is of a good quality in general. Tlie 
\vhoie population of this Town in 1810, 
■was 3645, with 104 senatorial electors ; 
and the taxable property was valued by 
the Assessors that year at 464,216 dol- 
lars. The Vi 1m je of Jiuia-cia is just on' 
the line between Townships No. 12, of 
the 1st and 2d Ranges, and on the E. 
bank of Tonne wanta creek. It contains 
about 40 houses, a court-house and jail, 
and some other buildings, and is a place 
of considerable business. It is situated 
on tiK' great road from Albany to BuiTu- 
]o, 2i6 miles from Albanv, and 40 from 
Bufialo. ' R.S.,&J.E. 

Bath, a Post-Township, the Capital 
of Steuben County, 245 miles W. of 
Albany, and about 40 S. of Canandal- 
gua ; bounded N. by Ontario Count}', 
and the Town of Pulteney, E. by Pulte- 
iiey and Wayne, S. by Painted Post and 
Addison, V/. by Dansville and Canisteo. 
It comprises 'i'ownships No. 4, 5 and 6 
in the 4th Range ; No. 4 and the S. half 
of No. 5 in the 3d Range ; the W. half 
of No. 4 and the S. W. quarter of No. 
5 in the 2d Range of Townships of 
Phelps and Gorliam's purchase : — being 
in length 20 miles N. and S., and 6 to 15 
in width. The Conhocton enters this 
extensive tract at the N. W., and leaves 
it near the S. E. corner, winding a very 
tlcvious course of near 30 miles, in 
w^icli it I'eceivcs maviy smaller streams 
that supply alrandancc of mill-seats. 
The land is of various qualities, much 
of it considerably broken, but described 
as capable of being made a good farm- 
ing country, with a due -admixture of 
;irable, meadow and pasture lands. 
And there is also a good proportion of 
the first quality of rich arable lands, 
with line tracts of alluvion aiong the 
nunierous creeks. The mills are vari- 
ously enumerated by my Correspon- 
dcnis ; but tliey agree in mentioning 4 
torn-mills, 12 saw-mills, 3 fulling-mills, 
and 2 carding-raachines. The whole 
jpojiulation in 1810, was 1036, with 97 
electors. Roads ai-e opened in evei-y 
«lirection, and there is a turnpike from 
\iie Village of Batlito Canandaigua, and 
one also to the E. by Ithaca at the head 
of the Cayuga lake, wliich opens an in- 
tercourse with the country on the East. 

Baih Village is handsomely situ- 
ated on the E. side of the Conhocton, 
;'-iul contains about 50 houses and stores, 
!>\n[ the county buildings. Its trade is 
i!.;'y considerable and rapidly increas- 



ing, as is the population also. The 
Conhocton, here 7'5 feet wide, is boat- 
able to the Tioga river, and there are 
several turnpikes that centre here. 

H. A. T. 
Bedfoed, a Post-Township and half- 
sliire Town, of the County of Westches- 
ter, 44 miles from New- York, and 130 
S. of Albany; bounded Northerly by 
Somers and S. Salem, Easterly by S. Sa- 
lem and Poundridge, Southerly by Poun- 
dridge and North Castle, W. by New 
Castle. It is about 6 rniles square. — 
Croton creek or river runs along the N. 
line in tlie N. W. corner, and tliere are 
several branches of this stream that 
spread over tlie Town and supply a great 
abundance of mill-seats : and there is 
1 small stream that i-uns S. to I^ong Isl- 
and Sound. The mills are numerous, 
and more than equal to the wants of the 
inhabitants. Its general surface is ele- 
vated, and though broken by small hill.s 
and valies, has very little of waste 
ground. The arable, pasture, and mead- 
ow lands are in very just proportion for 
a good farming country, and th e whole 
is ^vell watered by springs, brooks and 
rivulets ; the latter of a good size for 
mills. The summits of the hills afford 
many extensive and interesting pros- 
pects. But the biils are stony and hard 
to till, tlrough they yield good crops of 
grain, grass, and all the common fruits. 
Since the api>earance of the wheat in- 
sect, but little wheat is raised, though 
it is hoped that improved husbandrj', by 
producing; a more vigorous growth, will 
in time overcome its ravages. The rye 
of this Town, and of the surrounding 
country, is of a superior quality ; little 
inferior for bread, when properly n>ana- 
ged, to poor wheat. And it were well to 
extend a knowledge of these facts, as also 
that jye, with every other agricultural 
product, is good or bad, as the soil is 
well or ill chosen. A bad policy pre- 
vails among the/armers in respect to do- 
mestic stock ; and the calves and iambs 
sold for the butcher's stalls, are replaced 
by foreign sheep and cattle. See Do- 
mestic Zoology, page 21. The in- 
habitants own the soil, none are very 
rich, and none can be said to be v&ry 
poor ; and " perliaps no place can ex- 
liibit a greater proportion of sober, in- 
dustrious, and well disposed citizens." 
The roads are very numerous and run 
thioughlhe town in all directions. Tim- 
ber is scarce, and fire-wood is an article 
of high expense, though j^eut, and of a 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



131 



good quality, is found in great abun- 
dance. In 1810 the taxable property a- 
niounted to 363,743 dollars, when llierc 
were 347 taxable inhabitants, and a 
•whole population of 2374, with 241 elec- 
tors. Near the centre of this town is 
the Village of Bedford, where the courts 
for the county are held one half of the 
time, and the other half at White-Plains. 
Here are a Court-Housc and Prison, a 
Presbyterian Church, an Academy, and 
a small number of houses. It is 14 miles 
from Sing-Sing", ar.d IGfrom 'I'arry Town, 
on the Hudson, 44 from New-York, and 
12 from Greenwich in Connecticut, on 
tiie Sound. The first settlement of this 
Town was at a place called the Hop 
Ground,from its abounding in wild hops, 
and the settlement was long known by that 
name. It was tlien under the jurisdic- 
tion of Connecticut, and its General 
Court granted permission in 1681, and 
1682, to erecc a plantation there, by tiie 
general name of Bedford, v/hich it has 
ever since retained, and with its present 
limits. The original Patent is therefore 
under the seal of Connecticut, executed 
in 1697 ; nor was the settlement consid- 
ered as belonging to this state, till 1700, 
when it was so determined by a iinal or- 
der of King William of England. The 
inhabitants suffered much in the Revo- 
lutionary war, their village was burnt, 
and much property destroyed, but they 
continued firmly attached to the inter- 
ests of their country. J- J- 

Beekman,* a Township of Dutch- 
ess County, 12 miles E. of the Hudson, 
and nearly central in the county ; boun- 
.ded N. by Clinton and Washington, E. 
by Dover and Pawling, S. AVesterly by 
Fishkill, being of a triangular form, 
terminating in a point on t!ie south. The 
surt"u'e is consiilcrably broken and the 
soil various. West-Mountain occupies 
the eastern border, is roup,!i and sterile, 
but yields a bed of indiifcxont iron-ore. 
In the N. W. part is the tract called 
Os-xego, undulated v.'ilh hill iind dale, 
the soil but indiirei-eut;— furtiier E. is 
I lie dry gi-avelly valley called the Clove; 
and Jlpoquag-ue, in the S. E. p.irt is more 
level, but tiie soil is said by Correspond- 
ents to be light and muck exhausted in 
general. Its streams are small, but its 
2' small creeks passing into Fishki!!, 
unite there, and form Fishkill creek, 



* T/iis name ivasfrom TFeriry Beskman, 
i\n or/rcnal pmprieicv ami patentee. 



which enters the Hudson, at New- 
Windsor bay. Sprout creek, the north- 
ern one, runs through Oswego, where 
are some mills, and a cotton manufac- 
tory. The other branch passes the 
Clove and Apoquague. These local 
names are in common use to designate 
parts of Beekman, and serve to perpet- 
uate the history of the early settlements 
there. Some Dutch farmers establisiied 
themselves at the Clove and Apoquague, 
at a very early period, probably about 
1700, and many of their farms and im- 
pi'ovements are still possessed by their 
descendants. Tljere are in tliis Town, 
4 Qiiaker Meeting-houses, in 1 of which 
is held a»monthly meeting ; and there 
is, also, a Dutch Reformed meeting- 
house in the Clove, and 1 fo? Baptists 
at Oswego. S. R. 

Bengal, a Post-Township of Onei- 
da Co., on the N. E. side of Oneida 
lake ; bounded N. b^' Camden, E. by 
Pvome and Western, S. by Verona, W. 
by Constantia, being about 12 miles by 
7, exclusive of the waters of Oneidii 
lake, of which A is in this town. It 
was first erected in 1807, from Camden^ 
and then called Orange ; name clianged, 
April 6, 1808, to Bengal. It is watered 
by Fisli, and Wood creeks, and along 
these and the lake shore, the land is 
pretty good; tho' in general, the re- 
mainder may be called of inferior quali- 
ty. The first settlements commenced 
in 1802, and there are now, 1810, about 
400 inhabitants, and 80 senatorial elec- 
tors. 'I'here are about 5000 acres of 
land in this town, belonging tt) tlie slate, 
Tliere Pj-a 3 or 4 grain, sav/, and fulling 
mills. The settlers, in general, hold the 
1 ind in fee on which they reside, but a 
large portion of the whole is owned bv 
non-residents. The inhabitants have 2 
school-houses, and no other public buil- 
(lings. Tlie population appears by the 
Census of 1810, to be 454, with 71 
elector.s,. The Post-OHice in this town 
was established in 1812. 

J. H. 

Bexton, a Township occupying the 
S. E. extremity of Ontario County, witli 
a Post-Oflice called Jerusalem ; it is 
bounded N. by the Town of Seneca, E.. 
by the Seneca Lake or the Count): of 
Seneca, S. by .Steuben County, W. by 
Jerusalem or the E. arm of Crooked 
Luke, and the Town of Middlesex. 
Itiiichides Tv)wnship8in the l.-^t Range, 
and about lialf of No. 7, together with 
the strip or [^-orc of land between thes- 



132 



GAZETTEER OE NEW-YORK. 



and the Seneca Luke ; beinj^ about 12 
jfiiles N. and S. with a medial width oi 
S miles. Tliis Town was first erected 
in 1803, from Jerusalem ; called Ver- 
non, till loG'G, then chung-ed to Snell, 
ju'.d in 1810. the name was again chani^- 
ed for Benton. The soil is exceUentfor 
grain and grass, and without hills or 
niounlalns. The owtlet ofCrooked Lake, 
one of the best streams for mills in the 
county, crosses tliis Town to Seneca 
Lake, on which are erected 5 grain 
mills, some of which are very large and 
Aahiable, 6 saw-mills, 2 fulling-mills, 
r.nd? carding machines. On some other 
streams there are 5 saw-mills and 1 
grain-mill. There are 10 dii|illeries of 
grain spirit.s, which produce 20,000 
gallons of whi.'-key annually, very little 
of whicli goes out of the county for a 
market. There are 2 Methodist meet- 
ing-houses, and jibout 20 school houses. 
iSenton is 15 miles S. of Geneva, on the 
main i-oad to Steuben cntmty, and about 
21 S. E. from Cauandaigua. It was first 
settled about 1790 by the followers of 
Jemima \Vilktnson, now principally 
I'emoved to Jerusalem. The whole pop- 
ulation in 1810, 3339, and there are 
571 families, with only 3 slaves. The 
inhabitants are principally farmers, and 
make much of their clothing in the 
household-way. There are 115 looms, 
wliich yielded 35352 yards of cloth in 
1810. — There are 2 small Villages, on 
the outlet of Cross Lake. That called 
Hope, or Hopeton, is at the mouth of 
this stream, on the margin of Seneca 
Lake, where are valuable mills erected 
by Charles Williamson, Esq. at an ex- 
pense of about ?'000 dollars. These 
n-iills, with most of the Village, arc 
now tlie property of John Nicholas, Esq. 
an enterprizing" Vlr_jinian. The other 
is about 1 mile from Crooked Lake, and 
is called I'ennyan or Peim-yank, a name 
derived from the circumstance that the 
f.rst iiihabitanis were Yankees and I'cnn- 
sylvantans in about equal numbers. 
Hero are mills also. The land is owned 
by its occupants. E. S. 

KEr.KSMiuE, a Township in the N. 
W. extremity of Broome County, bound- 
eel N. by Cortlandt Co., E.by Lhsle, S. 
by Tioga, W. by the county of Tioga. 
It has a Posl-Offiie called Westville, 160 
miles from Albany. This Town is about 
1 i miles long N. and S., by Smiles wide. 
'J'hc first settlements were made about 
179.1, by families from Berkshire coun- 
ty iu MuMsachuiietls ; mil '.he soil being 



()t the first quality, this Town has in- 
creased fast i» wealth and population. 
The soil is princip.ally a well adapted 
medium for either grain or grass ; and 
the surface has a good diversity for 
liealth, and the various products of aif- 
riculture. The Owego creek, the main 
branch of which forms the line between 
Broome and Tioga counties, together 
with the E. branch, which spreads over 
this Town, furnish abundance of fine 
sites for mills. The whole is also well 
watered by springs, and small rivulets. 
Agreeable to the Census of IBlOi the 
population is 1105 ; and there are about 
100 senatorial electors. There are I 
grain-mill, 4 saw-mills, 1 ca;'ding-ma- 
chine, 3 distilleries ; and a competent 
number of mechanics. There is one 
house of Worship, with asettledpreach- 
er for Presbyterians, with a congrega- 
tion of 300 persons, and 7 or 8 school- 
houses. The inhabitants are said by my 
Correspondents to be remarkably indus- 
trious, well informed and good citizens. 
The Post-Office is kept near the centre 
of the Town, 14 miles N. of Owego 
VilJ.ige. Lands held in fee, by practi- 
cal Farmers ; a description of men on 
whose wisdom, and firmness, depend 
the conservation of American Liberties. 
A laudable emidation is prevailing for 
household manufactures, a circumstance 
as honorable as characteristic of the ori- 
gin of the inhabitants. J W. 2d. 

Berlin, a large Township of Rens- 
selaer County, 20 miles E. of Albany, 
and 19 S. E. from Troy ; bounded N. by 
Gr.afton and Pelersburgh, E by the 
State of Massachusetts, S by Stephen- 
town and Nassau, VV. by Greenbush.. 
It is 12 miles in length E. and VV., and 
7^ in breadth. The western part fop 
about 8 miles, is very rugged, some 
part moimtainous, and the general 
character of the whole is that of a hilly 
country, interspersed with many marsh- 
es and impenetrable forests of ever- 
greens, and with some valllcs of fine 
farming land. In the E. i)art, Berlia 
Kollow, through which flows little 
lioosac creek, is a fine tract of light 
.illuvion, extensive and well cultiv.*\ted. 
The timber is here deciduous, and mucli 
of the upland of the valley is a warm 
gravelly loam. The raountalnou.s part 
IS stony, with some glades of pretty 
good upland ; and small vales of recent 
alluvion or a light vegetable mold, cu- 
riously spread over fields almost cover- 
ed with qu;irtzosc .■stones of a good ■'/i/.i 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



133 



for field-*;i:i, are not uncommon. This 
tr:ict alioiinds with wood, and with si- 
licious sand, both useful in tl e manu- 
facture of glass. Its geology lius lit- 
tle of interest : but examining the hills, 
and the banlcs of water-courses, I find 
the same character of earth and a very 
great similarity in the stones, with 
those found in the ridges of the Green 
Mountains, in Vermont ; and, abating 
a little in the rigors of climate, tliat 
same sovereign sterility that marks their 
mountain character. Sec Mountains. 
p. 9. Tliere are several mill-streams, 
tlie largest of wiiich is I.itile Hoosac 
creek, coursing N'. through Berlin Hol- 
low ; some small waters of Lebanon 
creek of Columbia Co., run from the S. 
part of this Hollow, and the W or 
moimtainous part sends some small 
streams tothe Hudson, just below Troy. 
And the small natural ponds are very 
numerous. The lands are held princi- 
pally by durable lease from Stephen 
Van kensselaer, Esq., sole proprietor 
of the soil, for an average rent per an- 
num of about 83 bushels of wheat for 
100 acres. \ few German families set- 
tled in the Hollow about 1764, then cal- 
led Little Hwosac ; afterwards attached 
to Fetersburgh and Stephentown, from 
vhich Berlin was erected in 18U6. There 
are 2 or 3 meeting-houses, and 9 school- 
houses. Berl.n has 10 saw-mills. 3 
grain-mills- a carding-machine, a cloth- 
ier's works, and a distillery of grain 
spirits. The population, in 1810, 3012, 
and 326 senatorial electors. In the W. 
part of this Town are extensive estab- 
Jisliments for the manufacture of win- 
dow glass, which i.ave produced a flour- 
ishing little village of about 50 houses, 
stores, shops, mills, &c., situated 12 
miles E. from Albany. See Rensse- 
laer Village. The eastern turn- 
pike from Albany to the W. line of Mas- 
saciinsetts near AVilliams College, leads 
through this Town, and passes within 
a mile of the Village of Rensselaer ; 
from which place a turnpike is now 
opening to Berlin Hollow, in a S. E, 
direction. This road will prove a great 
benefit, if it be well laid and worked ; 
opening a much easier and nearer wa\ 
to .Albany, from the rich farming Towns 
in the Western part of Massacjiusens. 
J G., £t T.F. 
Bern, .1 Township of Albany Coun- 
ty, erected from Rens«elaerville in 1795, 
situated on the \V. line of the Co., and 
from 13 to 20 miles about W. from Al- 



bany : bounded N. by Schenectady Co., 
E. by Guilderlandt and Bethlehem, S, 
by Rensselaerville, W. by Schoharie 
Co. It is about 13 miles in length N. 
and S., with a medial width of Sj miles. 
1 he situation is elevated, on the height 
of land between Albany and Schoharie 
counties, antl the surface much broken 
by the Helderberg hills, noticed under 
iMouNT.MNS, p. 9. The rocks are 
calcareous, and present many precipi- 
ces of 70, 100, and some of near 200 feet 
jierpendicular elevation. The streams 
are but small, the sources of those that 
run into Schoharie and Catskill creeks ; 
and tliere are 2 small natural ponds of 
about 100 acres each But it is well 
supplied with small springs and biooks- 
The vallies are of considerable extent, 
and present a fine soil of light calcare- 
ous loam ; while there are also tracts of 
clay, of marsh, bog-turf, and marie. 
These h Us have many natural caverns, 
and exhibit to the superficial observer 
many indications of metallic treasures, 
but they have been but little explored 
by the eye of science. Tlie popu- 
lation of Bern in 1810, was 5136; there 
are about 600 Senatorial Electors, and 
the whole number of taxable inhabitants, 
may be near 800. There are 5 housea 
of worship ; a Presbyterian. Dutch Re- 
formed, German Lutheran, Baptist, 
and one for Methodists. There are 6 
grain-mills, 28 saw-mills, 2 fulling-mills, 
and a carding machine. The lands are 
held by durable lease from Stephen 
Van Rensselaer, Esq., subject to an 
annual rent of about 10 to 14 bushels of 
wheat for 100 acres. 

This town has a small village of 20 
dwellings, a Presbyterian meeting-house, 
a number of stores, shops. &c , pleas- 
antly situated on the road from Albany 
to Schoharie, 21 miles from Albany and 
14 from Schoiiarie court-house. This is 
called Union-Street, or Village, is a half 
mile in length, 10 rods wide, and makes 
a handsome appearance. The inhabi- 
tants are principally Farmers, of do- 
mestic habits, and who manufacture the 
most of their clothing in their own fam- 
ilies. 

This town was first settled about 
1750, by a few German families, but 
till after the French war, populated 
very slowly ; and in 1775, the whole 
settlement did not exceed 61 families. 
The early inhabitants suffered very 
much during the French and Revolu- 
tionarv wars, both by Whig and Tory 
IS 



134 



GAZEl^EER OF NEW-YORK. 



divisions and by Indian depredations. 
Of a iTiililia company of 85 men, 63 
joined the British army at Saratoga, in- 
cluding the Captain ; the remainder, 
faithful to their country, fled to its 
standard at the same time, and devoted 
their lives to its service. 'I'here is a 
marsh of some extent which yields a 
firm white sand tliat promises to be of 
use in the arts, and a cranberry boi;- 
within this, deserves notice as a sin- 
gular curiosity. A lofty leJge of rocks, 
of great extent, being the main spine 
of. the Heldcrbergs, on the eastern 
border of Bern, is well worthy the at- 
tention of the curious. Its eastern front 
has the perpendicularity of an artificial 
wall or a basaltic column, presenting 
a lofty rampart of 200 to 500 feet eleva- 
tion, with an upright or shelving pre- 
eipice, in many places 200 feet high, 
juid perfectly inaccessible but by climb- 
ing on ropes or ladders. The rocks 
abound much with those impressions 
resembling muscle-shells, attributed to 
petrefaction. There are many natural 
caverns, 2 of which are of great extent. 
One of tliese has been traced 12 rod.s 
under a fine soil on a plain, where the 
exploring party ascended through a nat- 
ural shaft or tunnel. Another very ex. 
traordinary one opens by a narrow en- 
trance in oncjof the above noticed pre- 
cipices, and has been explored about 
400 feet, through some spacious open 
ings or rooms. 



A.B. 



Hethel, a Post-Township in the S. 
W extremity of Sullivan Co., erected in 
180'J i bounded N. by Liberty, E. by the 
Mongaup, or the T. of Thompson, S. by 
Lum\er!and, W. by the Delaware river, 
or the Slate of Pennsylvania -, being a- 
bout 15 miles by 10 ; the area, 102,260 
acres. Tlie population 733 souls ; with 
30 Sen. Electors ; real estate, taxed, 
207,062; personal, S384-9 = S210,911.— 
Tliere is a Post-OJkc at Cochectonon the 
Delaware, 22 miles from Monlicello, 60 
miles' W. of Newburgh, and about 140 
on the Post route from Albany. Bethel 
J'ost-OJfice, is recently established. This 
Town is wholly within the great Hard- 
enburgh Patent : ii'tluding, (except 71 
and 72,) from No. 41 to 80, and part of 
33 to 39, of great lot No. 1 ; and great 
lots 16, 17, and the W. part of 15. The 
principal streams are the Collakoon and 
Mongaup. The White Lake is about 1 
mile across, the Newburf;h and Cochec- 
lon Turnpike lying along its S. shore. — 
At the outlet, on tlie N. side, are sever 
?1 houses, a saw and grain mill, where 



is also a Post-OJlce, called White Lake. — 
rhere are some other small ponds. The 
land, in general, fertile; timber, hem- 
lock, beech, maple, basswood, and some 
nine. CocAcc<oH, is on the Delaware, at 
the crossing of the Newburgh and Co- 
checton turnpike. Here is a small village 
of 15 houses and stores. It is an Indian 
name, common to both sides of the river. 
L.B., & S.P.J. 

Bethlehem, a large Townsliip of 
Albany County, bounded N. by Albany 
and Guiklerlandt, E. by the Hudson, S. 
by Cceymans, W. by a small angle of 
Rensselaerville and by Bern. The area 
may he 96 square miles, or 61,440 acres ; 
its centre about 8 miles, S. W. from Al- 
bany. For the general character of the 
soil, the county may be consulted, and 
the surface is considerably diversified. 
Much of the whole is yet covered witli 
wood, though it sustains a very conside- 
rable population. Agreeable to the Cen- 
sus of 1810, there are 4430 persons, of 
which number 137 are slaves. Bethle- 
hem creek or Vlaman's kill, waters the 
central part ; and Norman's creek, a fine 
mill-stream, receiving Vly Kill from the 
N. Western part, crosses the N. E. cor- 
ner to the Hudson, which it enters 2A 
miles below .Mbany, and supplies abun- 
dance of water for valuable mdls erect- 
ed nearits mouth. Coeyman's creek rises 
in the southern part, and though a small 
stream, afl'ords some advantages. In this 
Town are 8 grain-mills, 11 saw-mills, 3 
fulling-mills, 2 carding machines, 5 tan- 
works, with some other works of a simi- 
larnature. There are also 6480sheep,185 
looms for family weaving, and these pro- 
uuce annually about 53,000 yards of cloth. 
The Helderbergs, or Heklerljerg hills 
that traverse the county of Albany, oc- 
cupy a small part of this town, the W. 
line of which just skirts the main ridge. 
There are some extensive and valn.able 
alluvial hinds along the Hudson, whicli 
were early settled bv the Dutch. 

F.N. 

Blenheim, a Post-Township situa- 
ted in the S. part of Schoharie County, 
47 miles at, out S. W. from Albany, and 
about 33 N. of W. fnrni Catskill ; boun- 
ded Nonhcrly by Middleburgh, E. by 
Broome, or Schoh.arie creek, Southerly 
l)y Delaware County, W. by Jefl'erson. 
It is exclusively watered by the ScliO- 
harie creek and its numerous small 
slieyms, which afibtdan abundance of 
fine n.iU-seais. This town is conside- 
rably broken, as it comprises the wes- 
tern" verge of theCatsbergs, or Catskill 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



135 



hills. Its roads are numerous, undopen 
read}' intercourse with Albany, '\thens, 
Catskill, and other market I'owns on 
the Hudson. See Broome, tlie adjoin- 
in£j Town on the E., for an enumeration 
ol these. Ag-reeable to the Census of 
1810, the population is 131 9— but thougli 
jt has been partially settled for many 
jears, its inhabitants are yet suffering' 
the inconveniencies and hardships ex- 
perienced in a new settlement. Except 
that it is less broken by high hills or 
mountains, the general description is 
much the same as Broome. The tim- 
ber is oak, walnut, beech, maple, birch, 
basswood, hemlock, and pine. N.T. 

Bloom FIELD, a Post -Township of 
Ontario County, being near 12 miles 
square ; bounded N. by Boyle, E. by 
Farmington and Canandaigua, S. by 
Bristol and HoHeoy, \V. by Avon and 
Lima. It has 2 Post-O^ces, one called 
Jiloomfield, the otlie;- JJIoomville, 6 and 
12 miles VV. of Canandiugva, on the 
gre.1t road running K. and W. across 
this county, the grand avenue of com- 
munication between Albany and Niaga- 
ra. This is the most populous Town .n 
the county, and one of tlie best farming 
towns in the state. The inhabitants are 
wealthy, enjoying all the ease of inde- 
pendence, derived from agricultural in- 
dustry and economy : blessings bounti- 
fully and widely diffused among the in- 
liabitants of the western counties of this 
state. The land is held in fee simple. 
The soil is of the best quality of loam, 
good for grain and giass, and the sur- 
fiice but gently undulated. The waters 
are small, and not numerous. Mud 
Creek courses along the E. line ; the 
outlet of Honeoy Lake forms a part of 
the western boundary; and a small 
stream of Teoronto or Gerundegut l)a\ 
waters the norlhern part. The whole 
population, by the Census of 1810, 4425, 
and no abatement of this numl)er for 
slaves. There are few manufacturing 
establishments.butavast scene oi house - 
J>old manufacturing makes honorable 
amends for this deficiency. The looms 
are 22. >, which produced 63,934 yards 
of cloHi m 1810. Bloomlield has 45.; 
Senatorial Electors, and 727 families. 
There are 2 Presbyterian meeting-hou- 
ses, and several large and respectable 
societies of Baptists and iVJethodisls. 
The common schools are nu.iierous and 
well supported. 

A pail of this Town is called Bouton- 
iliUj and another part VV. Bloomlield, 



or Bloomville. Bouton-Hili, is 14 miles 
W. of Canandaigua, being the E. part 
of the Town. J.C.S., N.T. 

Blooming-Grove, a Township of 
Orange County, 12 miles W. of the 
Hudson, and nearly VV. of West-Point ; 
bounded N. by New-Windsor, E. by 
Cornwall, S.by Munroe, W. by Goshen. 
It embraces a part of the mountainous 
ranges of the Highlands, and is much 
broken and hilly. The population in 
1810, was 1759, when there were 121 
senatorial electors. It has 1 house for 
public worship, Presbyterian, and a 
number of school-houses. There are 
7 grain-mills, 8 saw-mills, 2 fuUipg- 
mills, 4 carding-machines, a paper- 
mill and an oil-mill. The inhabitants 
are principally farmers, and manufac- 
ture their own clothing in the domestic 
way. The only place called a Village, 
is that called Salisburv, or Salisbury- 
mills, where are 20 dwelling.s, some 
stores, a school-house, tavern, and 5 or 
6 mills, &;c. ; and here is Salisbury 
PosUQffice, established in 1812.— It i.s 
watered by IVIoordei)ar's or Murderer's 
creek, which crosses the northern part, 
running eastward to the Hudson. The 
old post-road betwee;i Albany and New- 
York, leads through this Town, which 
has had partial settlements since about 
1750. Scunnemimck mountain occu- 
pies the S Eastern part, and shows 
some lofty summits, overlooking those 
toward the Hudson, and presenting a 
fine view of the country on the N. East. 
In the S. Western part is a place called 
Oxford, at the junction of 4 ro.ids. 

A J C. 
RoLTON, a Township of Washing- 
ton Co., on the W. side of Lake George, 
bounded N. by Hague, E. by L. George, 
S, by Caldwell, W. by Scroon river. 
It was first erected, March 25, 1799, 
from Thurman, and contained in 1801, 
168 Electors ; in 1807, 198. The iirst 
settlements commenced about 1786, 
and there are now, 1810, about 72<J 
persons. The country is either hilly 
or mountainous, though the vallies are 
of considerable extent; the soil rallier 
moist and stony, but produces good, 
crops of wheat, rye, grass, &c., and 
along the margin of the Lake, it is said 
10 excel for fruit, sucli as apples, pears, 
plumbs,. and j!)eficA«?s, thougii this seems 
rather problematical. The limber, oak, 
several variet'es, beech, maple, birch, 
and white pine, great quantities of 
wliich are annually sent to market, prin- 



136 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOT?K. 



cipally down tiie Hudson. Lake 
George, discharges iioithward, but 
■with a strong N. wind, rafts of boards, 
&c. are conveyed up the Lake with 
Very little labour, to its liead, 14 miles 
from Fort-Edward. The high hills or 
rather mountains which border this 
Lake, form such parallel ranges as to 
compel the prevailing winds to take the 
direction of the water, and alwajs blow 
either N. or S., occasioning a conside- 
rable ciwrent and a consequent rise of 
the water on the lee-shore. The in- 
habitants are principally from the eas- 
tern states, and there are one Congre- 
gation of Presbyterians, and 1 of Bap- 
tists, and a number of school-houses. 
There are 3 grain-mills, 12 saw-mills, 
and some other water-machinery. N. 
West Bay, and Tongue Mountam, be- 
ing the peninsula formed by tiiis Bay, 
are in this Town, and Ruse's pond, of 
J^ by ^ mile, lies about 1^ mile W.of 
L. Georgo. The Narrows of Lake 
George, before noticed as a singular 
and interesting natural curiosity, lies op- 
posite this Town. ' '""re the waters are 
considerably coni- !■ and little Isl- 

ands occupy almost all of the surface, 
bee Narrows. R.C G., & K.B. 

BoonvilSe, a Post-Township of 
Oneida County, 27 miles N. from Utica 
on the road to the Black river country ; 
bounded Northerly by Lewis County, 
E. by Remsen, S. by Steuben, W. by 
Lee. This Town was erected in 1805, 
on the division of the county, from a 
part of Leyden. Its settlements are but 
recent.and it has but a scanty population. 
Agreeable to the Census of 1810, the 
whole population was 393, and tliere are 
67 Senatorial Electors. It is watered by 
Black River, and several small branches, 
and gives rise to Wood Creek of the 
Oneida Lake. 1 here are no mountains, 
though some part is considerably hilly, 
and the soil may adroit of pretty p;cneral 
cultivation. The forest trees are decid- 
uous and evergreen in pretty equal pro- 
portion, with a very heavy growth. 

A sm.ill Village, plcas.'mlly situated 
on the Black river road, called Boon- 
ville, or Boon's Settlement, has a few 
dwe,llings, the post-office, &c. 

N.T. 

BoYLt;, n Post-Township in the N. 
W. part of Ontario County, 15 to 30 
miles N. W. from Cananduigua, bound- 
ed N. on L. Ontario and by Penfiekl, 
K. by Peulield and Palmyra, S. by 
Bloomfield and Avon, W. by Genesee 



river. On the first organization oi' On- 
tario County it was calh-d NorthfioUl, 
and received its present npme in 1808. 
rhe irregular form of this Town ic- 
quires for it more minute detiiil. It 
comprises Town.'^hip No. 12 in liie 4tli 
Range, and all W. and N. of it to the 
Genesee river and Lake Ontario, ex- 
cepting only the Town of Penfield, 
which see. It, therefore, includes ilie 
W. half of Teoronto or Gerunde;:ut bay, 
embraces Lake. Ontario on the N., and 
on the W. is bounded by the Genesee 
river. The soil is of a good quality, but 
the population luis not increased so rap- 
idly as in some of the other towns. 
Agreeable to the Census of 1810, the 
whole |;opulalion was 286m, v.hcn there 
were 177 Senatorial Electors, .and 513 
iamilies. There were also 123 looms, 
wluch yielded annually 32,482 yards of 
clotli, *the product of houseliold indus- 
try. Lands are held in I'lc simple. 

The great fails of Genesee ri\er are 
betvAeen this Town and Gates, in the 
County of Genes e, and present fo'.niid- 
able obstacles to the navigation of that 
river. The whole descent of the wa- 
ter is ISO feet within 3 miles, principal- 
ly in 2 falls of 95 and 75 feet. But for 
this, the Genesee would be boatable 60 
or 70 miles from the Luke. See Gates. 
N.T.,J.C.S. 

Bridgewater, a small Post-Town- 
ship in the S E. corner of Oneida County, 
about 6 miles E. and W , by 3; N. and S.; 
bounded N. by Paris, by Herkimer Co. 
on the E., Otsego and RladisonCos., on 
the S., and by Sangci field on the West. 
It lies about 12 miles S. of Utica, and is 
watered by some small liead branches of 
the Unadilla river. The W. part of 
Bridgew ater, is very hilly .ind broken, 
but afibrds good grazing lands, and tlie 
whole is well watered. A pleasant vale 
of rich land, extends N. and S. through 
the Town, and is about 1 mile wide, vvitli 
a gentle and regular ascent on the E., 
quite to the E. line of the Township. 
The 3d Great Western I'urnpike leads 
through this town, and tlie inhabitants 
are well supplied with good roads in 
every part. I'here are two religious so- 
cieties : 1 of Baptists, and 1 of Congre- 
gationalisis, and a few families of Qua- 
kers A handsome Church is erected in 
the centre of the Town, for the Congre- 
gationalisis, on a 4 acre green, given 
the Society by some individuals. There 
aie about 250 families, 8 school-houses, 
several sloixs and taverns, Sec. Large 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



137 



quaiUiiies ot" beef and pui-k, are annual- 
ly raised for market. Population in 1810, 
was 1170, with 161 electors L.C.J. 

Bristol, a Township of Ontario Coun- 
ty, erected on the first organization of tliat 
county; bounded N. by Hloomfield, E. 
by Canandaigua and .Middlesex, S. by 
Naples, W. by Honeoy. U is 12 miles 
lonjr N. and S. and mure llum 6 miles 
vide; comprising Townships No 8 and 9 
in the 4tli Range of Piielps and Gorham's 
purciiase, together with thitt part of No. 
8 in the od Runge lying \V. of Canandai- 
gua Lake. The soil is of an inferior qua- 
lity compared with the adjacent Towns. 
Occupying a middle station jjetween Can- 
andaigua Lake that discharges ea.stwai'd, 
and tlie Honeoy tliat discharges west- 
ward, it is necessarily high ground, and 
considerably broken. Its waters are in- 
considerable, though the small northern 
source of Mud Creek affords some conven- 
iences. The present pojiulation is 1540, 
and there are 199 Senatorial Electors. 
There i.'< 1 Haptist meeting-house, and a 
number of school-houses, in which meet- 
ings of worship are also occasionally l.eld. 
Its inhabitants are necessardy farmers, 
and as necessarily depend prmcipally on 
their household manufaciures for their 
clothing. There are 111 looms, and tliey 
yielded 25,7j4 yards of cloth in 181u. 
The centre of this town is 10 miles S. VV. 
from Can&ndaigua. The land is held in 
fee simple by the occupants. Fiiere were 
259 famdies in 1810. J.CS., N T. 

Broadalbin, a Post-Township of 
Montgomery County, N. of tiie VIohawk, 
boixnded N. by Northampton, E. by Gal- 
way and Providence in the County of 
Saratoga, S. by Amsterdam, W. by May- 
field. It lies about 10 miles from liie 
Mohawk ; is 8 miles long N and S , and 
4j wide. The first settlements, were 
about 1774-5, hut tliey were all broken 
up during the Revolutionary war, and it 
was erected into a Town, March 12, 
1793, and peopled very fast with emi- 
grants from Scotland, and the New-Eng- 
land States. There are 5 grist-mills, 13 
saw-mills, 2 fulling-mills, I cardiiig-ma- 
chine, and a competent number of com- 
mon mechanics. One .Methodist, and 
2 Presijvterian meeting-houses; and 10 
scho )l-houses. There are neither Moun- 
tains, Lakes, or any metals The soil is | 
mostly a strong loam, and very produc- 
tive of wiieat, rye, maize, barley, oats, 
flax, and grass. The northern part of 
this Town is nrincipally timbered with 
white pine. The household munufac- 
tures, ar6 nearly sufficient for the cloth- 



ing of the inhabitants, and a spirit of 
improvement prevails amongst the farm- 
ers, who have lately introduced the far- 
famed Merino breed of Sheep. The soil 
principally held in fee, though some few 
have durable leases, and the public high- 
ways and bridges ai'e in excellent order. 
Fonda's Bush, a handsome little vil- 
lage, is near the W. side of this Town. 
Tlie inhabitants may be styled a very civ- 
il, .hospitable, sober, laborious ])eople. 
The whole population in 1810, was 2238, 
with 307 taxable inhabitants, and 212 
senatorial electors, or persons j)ossessed 
of Freeholds of the clear value of 250 
dollars and upwards. R.B. 

Brookfield, a Post-Township in the 
Eu-stern angle of .Madison County; boun- 
ded N. by bangerfield and Bridgewalcf 
in Oneida Co , E. by Unadilla river, or 
Otsego Co., S. by Columbus in Clienango 
Co , W. by Hamilton and Madison. It 
ciimprises Town.ships 18 and 19, on 
l)e Witt's Maps, and was organized in 
1801, then in Chenango County. It has 
a post-office of the same name, 450 miles 
from Wasiiington, and lies about 22 miles 
a little W. of S. fro ^''r'lca, 93 nearly W. 
from Albany. T Ad had 196 Sen- 

atorial Electors in loOl ; 304, in 1807 ; 
307 in 1810 ; — and the whole population, 
4024 ; when the taxable property amount- 
ed to 223,114 dollars, agreeable to the 
Supervisors' books. The surface is un- 
even, and hilly ; the hills lying N. and S., 
but there is much good land, and the 
vallies are very fertile. The whole is 
well watered by small streams and 
springs. The rocks are calcareous, and 
abound with the impressions resembling 
small muscles, so common in lime-slcnes. 
Brookfield was settled about 1790, and 
now contains 2 Baptist meeting-houses, 
8 school-houses, a fuUing-mili, and 3 
carding-machines. There is, also, a small 
society of Quaker.?. 

j.H.a 

Brooichavew, a very large Township 
of Suffolk County, embraci.ng the whole 
width of Nassau or Long-Island, :md con- 
taining 9 Pust-OJpces It is bounded N. by 
Long-island Sound, E. by liiverhead and 
Southampton, S. by the Atlantic Ocean, 
W by Islip and Smithtown. The area is 
about 215 square miles, or 137,600 acres ; 
being more than equal to that of several 
of the counties of this state. Tlie soil 
on the northern half is sandy, broken and 
hilly along the Sound ; the southern part 
is very level, tlie soil a liglit loam or sand ; 
and much of the whole is yet a wild pine 
plain, chequered by partial selllemenls 



138 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK, 



and villai^es known by local names. Tde 
whole population in 1810 was 4176, 126 
of which are slaves. Tiie Senatorial e- 
lectors are .380, and the taxable property 
ns estimated by tlie Supervisors, 767.740 
ilollar*^ It is computed by resident Cor- 
respondents, that tiiistown sends annual- 
ly to New-York about 100,000 cords of 
ivood for fuel. It has several j^ood har- 
bors, and its trade with New-York neces- 
sarily employs considerable shippmej. — 
The roads are very numerous, as are the 
little villages and settlements with which 
ihey communicate. Of 9 Post -Offices, 1 
is called lirookhavcn, and the others are 
>SelauJcet Post-Office, Stony-Brook, Mid- 
tlleto-m, Paichogue, Fire-Place, Forge^ 
Droxuned-JiTeadoTj, and Morriches Post 
Offices, the last of which is 72 miles from 
New-York. At the most of these places 
are small villages, tlie oldest and largest 
of which is Setauket, G2 miles from New- 
York, where are 2 churches, 2 school- 
houses, a grain-mill, stores, dwellings, &c. 
and a town Library of several hundred 
volumes. This was the ancient residence 
of the Setauket Indians, and it has a good 
liarbor for small vessels. Stony Brook 
Village is 3 miles further east, on the N. 
side of the Island, has a good harbor, con- 
siderable trade, and builds some shipping. 
Drotuned Meadoiu is 3 miles east of Stony 
Erook. Patchogue, Fire-Pl.tce, and 
Morriches, are on the S. side of the Islsnd. 
Coram, near the centre, is the site of 
Town business. The bays, harbors, and 
inlets, afford abundance of iish ; and South 
Bay is very extensive, reaching from 
Hempstead in Queens county to South- 
ampton in Suffolk. This is separated from 
the ocean only by a narrow beach, and ex- 
cepting oysters, is well stored with fish. 
The agriculture of this town isimproving, 
andslreet manurefrom Nev-York is much 
used byiarmers on the N. side of the Isl- 
and ; — sea-weed, fish, &.C. on the S. side — 
The inhabitants are domestic in their 
manners, and m.aniifacture considerable 
of their clothim^ in their families. Tliere ■ 
are 6 Presbyterian and Congregational 
Churches, and i Episcopal in this Town, 
't'here are some small mill-streams, but 
tliat called Connecticut river is much the 
largest, being 9 miles long, with 4 mill- 
scats. Ronconquaway, or R')nconcoma 
pond, is on the W. line, p.artly in this 
T> wn. It is about 3 miles in circumfer- 
f.ncc, celebrated for its fisii for the ang 
leV, and tliat it is said to ebb and flow 
but scptcnnially. It is situated about 
the centre of the Island, is very deep, and 
may be regarded as a singnlai* curiosity. 



Peconick creek, or river, as it 4s called, 
forms a part of the boundary towards 
River-head. 

M.H.,&B.F.T. 

Brooklyn, a populous and wealthy 
Post-Township of King's County, on Long 
or Nassau Island, opposite the City of 
New- York ; bounded Northerly by East 
river and the Town of Bushwick, South- 
erly by Flatbush and Utrecht, Westerly 
by New-York bay. Its extent is about 6 
niiles on the E. river and bay of New- 
York, with a medial width of 3 miles, and 
is separated from New-York by the East 
river, here about jtlis of a mile wide. 

The face of the country is rather bro- 
ken and uneven ; the soil is of various 
qualities; and along the bay of New- York, 
considerably stony, though this is rather 
favorable than otherwise for the purposes 
of agriculture. And the general charac- 
ter of the soil is represented to be rather 
light, tho' productive. Much of the land 
is employed in furnishing fruit and oth- 
er vegetables for the daily markets at 
Brooklyn Village and the city of New- 
York ; and the quantity of such articles, 
daily wafted across the water is very 
great. Happily, too, for the city of New- 
York and for the common-good, this is 
not merely the business of small tenants 
and petty chapmen, but the regular bu- 
siness of many wealthy farmers. Of the 
local position of Brooklyn, much might 
be said; and its elegant views, witji a 
charming variety of fine sites for country- 
seats, both along the East river and York 
bay, have deservedly attracted the notice 
of men of taste and epuience. This to-.vn 
was settled at an early period of our his- 
tory, and has long sustained a very con- 
siderable population. 

Agreeable to the Census of 1810, tlie 
population of Brooklyn was 4402, and the 
Senatorial Electors that year amounted 
to 281, when the taxable property was val- 
ued on the Supervisor's books at 1,175,539 
doUar.s. Brookh n contains several small 
divisions or districts, which are known to 
the inhabitants by their respective names. 
Brooklyn Village, as desigiiiited by 
the fire-district, iFicludes about a mile 
square, and is situated immediately on 
the East river, opposite New-York. The 
Wallaboght, or Wallabout, on the 
N E. ol Brooklyn Village, includes a 
tract of land lying around a small bay 
'if the same name, and is the site of the 
United Slates' Navy Yard. The eastern 
nart, adjoining Biisliwick and Flatbush, 
is called Bedford, principally occupied by 
wealthy fanners. And besides tliesc are 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



i; 



Guanos, a low tract of salt-marsh, full of 
creeks, with mill-ponds ; and Redhook. 
and Yellnxuhocih, on tlie bay of New-York , 
the first of which is opposite Governor's 
Island, between which is Buttermilk chan- 
nel. For tlie public buildini;s, improve- 
ments, &c.see the two first mentioned di- 
visions. As a trading and manufacturing 
Tov/n, Brooklyn takes a very respectable 
rank. It3 harbor admits vessels of any 
size, and from 50 to 60 sliips, brigs and 
schooners, load annually at its uharves, 
though it carries on no trade to foreign 
parts, it being all concentrated in the 
great commercial emporium of New- 
York. Turnpikes are now opening be- 
tween Brooklyn and Jamaica and some 
other places on the Island, and a toll- 
bridge has been recently erected across 
the head of the Wallaboght bay, which 
saves about li mile in tlie intercourse of 
Busiuvick, Newtown and Flushing with 
Brooklyn. It is a plain wooden structure, 
and netts the company about 9 per cent 
on the capital stock 

Exclusive of the Village of Brooklyn, 
a large proportion of the inhabitants of 
the Township, are of Dutch extraction, 
retaining much of the ancient Dutch char- 
acter. These are principally Farmers, 
and such is their frugality and industry, 
that they enjoy all the ease and indepen- 
dence of agricultural opuleiice. In this 
town are (5 grain-mills for flouring, erect- 
ed on tide-streams, (or what are called 
tide-mills,) that annually send about 
10,000 barrels of flour to the city of New- 
York, by a safe and ea.sy water-carriage, 
of from o to 4 miles. There are 3 pow- 
der magazines, for the storage of gun- 
powder ; and since the enaction of the 
Quarantine laws, Brooklyn has profited 
of their prohibition in the city of New- 
York, by a pariicipatior. in its trade. The 
bloody battle of Long-Isjanil, Aug. 27, 
1776, was fought principally in this town, 
and its inhabitants su'fered very severely 
during the whole of' the war for Indepen- 
dence. And on the heights of Brooklyn 
are some reinains of a fortification, erect- 
ed toward the close of that war. Wittiin 
this is a well for fresh water, 120 feet 
deep, still entire. The Guanos impeded 
the retreat of the Americans in 1776, and 
were fatal to a great many. Here were 
Generals Stirling and Sullivan taken pris- 
oners by the British. C.J.I). 
JiROOKLYN Village, in tlie Township 
of Brookhn, Kings County, is situated on 
the S. bank of East river, near the W. end 
of Nassau or Long-Island, directly oi)|)o- 
site, and about i\hz of a mile from the 



iCity of New-York. Its situation is very 
eligible for trade, being the natural em- 
porium for all that of Nassau Island pas- 
sing to New- York, and it is much the 
largest Town on that Island. But, its 
commercial operations are necessarily 
m.erged in those of the metropolis, and al- 
though separated by the East river, it may 
be regarded as a kind of suburb of thaC 
city. Its situation is considerably eleva- 
ted, and the air salubrious. The number 
of houses may be about 400, and there are 
some extensive manufactories. A gin dis- 
tillery produces a pipe daily, and 2 of 
tliese establishments send annually to 
New-York about 600 pipes Oi gin. Anoth- 
er very extensive one is now erecting. — 
I'liere are 3 rope-walks that annually 
make about 1,000 tons of cordage. There 
are 2 paint manufactories, and a manufac- 
tory of'cotton andlinnen cloths, erected by 
Foreign manufacturers, besides an exten- 
sive set of machinery for packing cotton, 
&c. There are in Brooklyn 3 houses for 
public worship : a handsome Episcopal 
church, built of stone, in modern style, 
which has a bell and organ ; — a Dutch 
Reformed, also of stone, and one for Meth- 
odists. The Poor-house, is 2 stories high, 
of wood, and is also a house of correction. 
There are 2 market-iiouses, of wood, sit- 
uated at the open spaces by the old and 
nev/ ferries. Here is a Post-Office, and a 
principal point of concentration for all the 
stage and other roads on the Island. Du- 
ring the season of quarantine, for vessels 
arriving from sickly or suspected places, 
Brooklyn is much used jn their trade, 
and has many large store-houses, erect- 
ed for its accommodation. A draw- 
bridge is in contemplation, to connect this 
place with New- York. The communica- 
tion at present, is by 2 ferries, which be- 
long to the corporation of the city of New- 
York, and which, by being badly regula- 
ted, are the subject of much complaint. 
Tiie extent, growing importance and rap- 
idly increasing population of this Village, 
must soon demand an act of incorporation, 
and an improved system of municipal reg- 
ulations, for which indeed, its interests 
already sutler. There is a weekly Nev/s- 
paper printed here, and a considerable 
scene of Book printing. 

C.J.D. 
Broome, a Post-Township in the S. E. 
corner of Schoharie County, oS miles S. 
W. from Albany ; boundedN. by Middle- 
burgh, E. by the county of Albany.'Soutl'- 
erly by the county of Greene, W. by ihe 
Schoharie creek or the Town of Blenheim. 
This Town wp.s formerly called Brislol, 



140 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



tluincfed to Uroome in 1808. The Cats- 
bcrgs, or Gatskill moiiiitains wliicb enter 
this Town iVom Creene county, with a di- 
minishing' thoui;h lofty altitude, claim for 
it differ a mountainous or liilly charar ■ 
tor. Tiic western part is less rii;4S^ed, ano 
there are fine vallies of rich alluvion or ol 
lijilit sandy loam or mold. Besides thf* 
Schoharie creek, which washes its wesi- 
fin extremity, tliere are several siiiai 
branches also, that afford fme mill-seal.-- 
in abundance; and Catskill or Catsci'te!^ 
of Greene County, receives some small 
waters from the N. E corner. The title 
to land i.s principally by lease, and its at;- 
riculture is that of lease-land; but in the 
W. part some farms are purcliased from 
tiie State and occupied hy men who own 
llie soil Tlieve is 1 Dutch ]{eformed, and 
1 .Methodist nieeling^-house, and about 
34 school houses. There are 6 grain-mills, 
14saw-mi!b, and a small distillery of grain 
spirits. Tiie most of the forest-woods 
are deciduous, but there are fine g-roves 
of pine, very valuable. The population 
in 1810, 1942. and about 270 taxable in- 
habitants. There ave 5 turnpikes -Jiat lead 
liiroupjh this 'J'own ; but the Susquehan- 
na, leading from Catskill to Unadilla is 
the most used. The .\lbany and Dela- 
ware turnpike crosses the N. part ; and 
the Schoharie turnpike, from Athens on 
the Hudsoii. the N. E. corner The Sus- 
quehanna l:as an elegant bridge over that 
river, crossing to Blenheim. There are 
many fine cataracts on the streams, and 
the high rocky, precipitous and in many 
places shelving banks of Schoharie creek, 
deserve notice as a curiosity. 

EH,?<.TF 
Bkownvii.le, a large and valuable 
Post-Township of. Jefferson County, erect- 
ed from Leydc-n in 1802, then in Oneida 
Co., and comprised all that part of Jeffer- 
.son County, lying N. of Black river. The 
present extent of this Town, is about 24 
miles N. and S., and nearly the same in 
breadth. It is bounded on the N. W. by 
the St. Lawrence, the distance of 2'2 
miles ; about the same distance on the 
S. W. hy L. Ontario ; on the S. by the 
IJIack river, and by Le Ray on the E. 
'J'he surface is b;it gently undulated, the 
soil in general, rich and fertile. Along 
the St. Lawrence, the hmds are sufficient- 
ly elevated to render it healthy, and the 
.scenery highly picturesque aVid beautifnl ; 
;.s the liver is from 2 to 5 miles wide, 
aboinulilig with islands. The lantl is 
good along the Lake, but is much indent- 
id will) Bays. Clunimont Bay, the lar- 
,c,i si, jcce'.vf.s several fine strearris, and 



is about 15 miles in circumference. This 
Ray, affords one of the best fishing pla- 
ces in the N. Western part of this State, 
and is much resorted to in October and 
November, by the inhabitants from 50 to 
6U miles around, who usually put up ma- 
ny hundred barrels of good fish. The 
first settlements in this Town, commen- 
ced in 1799, by John Brown, from Penn- 
sylvania; and the progress of its popu- 
lation has been rapid and successful, by 
''migrants from Pennsylvania, and the 
Northern States. By the Census of 1810, 
tliere are 1662 inhabitants ; principally 
agriculturalis s, who own the s'-il they 
cultivate, and which is peculiarly well 
idapted for wheat, the first object with 
American Fat;mers. Other crops suc- 
ceed well, and maize, oats, rye, flax, &c., 
are furnisiied for foieign markets The 
settlements, are principally aiong the 
Black river, and exlendmg back to about 
7 miles ; while a large proportion ot the 
whole, remains still imsetted. Of the 
mills, &c., my Correspondents have not 
enabled me to detail accounts, according 
to my general plan. Indian ri>er, a con- 
siderable stream that runs into Black 
lake, (sometimes called the W. branch of 
the Osvvcgatchie,) wate s a part of this 
Town, and affords many good sites for 
mills. See Indian River. There are 
said to be good quarries of lime, and oth- 
er stone, similar to those of Watertown, 
which see. Povt-Putnam, Khiffston-ferrtj, 
Point-Peninsuhi,Gravelly-point and Cape- 
Vincput, local names for certain parts of 
this district, are all in Brownville. J'enet 
Sqmire, also, the name of a locatio of 
land, of considerable extent. G":.nd 
Island, Carlton, Fox, Grenadier, atul so 
many of the Thousand Islands, in the St. 
Lawrence, as come within the U. S., are 
annexed to this Town. 

The Village of BuowNviLLE.is pleas- 
antly situated on the N. b;»nk of Black 
river, 5 miles from its mouth, and at the 
head of boa' navigation. It contains 
about 20 houses, several stores, a school- 
house, a grain and saw-mill, and a dis- 
tillery. Here is the Post-Office, 180 
miles N. W. of Albany, where the mails 
arrive weekly. It is a place of conside- 
rable mercantile business, the trade of 
this country being principally with x»1ont- 
real. M.K.. E B, J B 

Brunswick, a large Township of 
Rensselaer County, erected in 1807, from 
the E. part of 'Froy bounded N. by 
Schaghticoke and Patstown, E. by Graf- 
ton, S. by Greenbush, W. by Troy and 
J Lansingburgh. Tiie soil is diversified, »•= 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



141 



isthe surface, but its agricultural products 
are considerable. The Poestenkill, a fine 
mill-stream that enters the Hudson i mile 
below Troy, meanders across Brunswick, 
and supplies fine sites for mills. Tom- 
hanoc creek of Hoosac creek, waters the 
N. E. corner, as does Wynant's creek the 
S. West. The taxable' property, as es- 
timated by the Supervisors in 1810, h- 
mounted to 300,390 dollars. The prpn- 
lalion, aiafreeable to the Census of 181G\ 
2S02, of which number 22 are slaves — 
Tiie senatorial electors are 253. Tiu: 
title to lands is by Lease from the propri- 
ctor of the Manor of Rensselaer, paying- a 
small annual rent. The centre of this Town 
is about 6 miles E. trom Ti-oy, the capital 
of the coimty. Its agriculture presents 
* contrast too plain to be misunder.«iood, 
wlien compared with that of adjacent 
Towns, cultivated by men who bold the 
right of soil in absolute lee. Js'.T. 

Brutus, a very excellrftit Township of 
Cayuga County, 5 miles N. of Auburn 
Viilage, 175 miles N. of \V. from Albany ; 
bounded N. by the Seneca river, E. by 
Camillus and Marcellus, in the Co. of O- 
jiondaga, S. by Owasco and Aurelius, W. 
by Aurelius and Mentz. It is about 10 
niiles long N. & S. by 5 to 6^ E. and West. 
The surface is even, and tlie soil very rich 
and fertile, and well watered. IJrutus 
contains about 330 families, and 182 Sen. 
Electors. A ledge of first quality of lime- 
stone, extends through this Town, in an 
E. and W. direction, and supplies good 
building stone for houses. Sec This 
Town was erected in 180'2, from the N. 
E. part of Aurelius, a Township of the 
Military tract. In 1810 the population 
was 2030, and the whole amount of taxa- 
ble property 84,514 dollars. A turnpike 
from Salina to Cayuga leads across this 
town, as does the great turnpike connect- 
ing Albany with the western part of the 
state. Gypsum is found in tliis Town, 
and in Aurelius, and pretty extensively 
wrought. It is well watered l)y a small 
stream th.at rises in the S. part, and runs 
H. to Seneca river. D.T , & T.W. 

Buffalo, a Post-Township, the Capi- 
tal of Niagara County, at the outlet of 
Lake Eric, 291 miles W. of Albany, and 
471 from Washington City; bounded N. 
by Cambria or Tonnewanta creek, E. by 
Cl.irence, S. by Willinck, W. by Lake Erie 
end Niagara river. This Town was e- 
rected Feb. 8, 1810, from the W. part of 
Clarence, and comprises a very important 
and valuable district of the great commer- 
cial stale of New- York. Its area m?v be 



19 



about 126 square miles. The land is good 
in general, and presents a considerable 
diversity of surface and soil. Tlie Ton- 
newanta in the N. wiih mimerous blanch- 
es, Eliicott's creek in the N. E., and Buf- 
falo creek in tlie S. with several large 
branches, all togetlier svppl v abundance 
of streams, and some good sites forniills. 
The great road from Albany to Niagara, 
winds along the S. side of the ledge of 
linie-stonc that curves N. Eastward from 
Black llock, and teintinates at BuflTalo, 
296 miles from Albany. Jn 1810, agree- 
able to the census, the population of tiiis 
tcAvn was l.'vOB, when there were 151 sen- 
atorial electors. 

The Village of Buffalo, or New Am- 
sterdam as it is also called, is situated 
just at the outlet of Lake Erie, at the 
mouth of Buffialo creek, and nearly oppo- 
site Fort Erie on the Bi'itish shore. Be- 
low this place, the river contracts, within 
2 miles, to about 3 quarters of a mile, 
which is at the village of Black Rock. — 
Buffalo is rapidly increasing in population, 
and contains about 100 houses and stores. 
Its trade is to a great amcunt. Here are 
also the court-house and juil for the coun- 
ty. The distance from this place to Pids- 
burgh is 222 miles, to Presqu'isle or E- 
rie, in the Pennsylvania Triangle, 90 
miles ; to Niagara Falls, (on the' Ameri- 
can side) 22 miles ; to Lewiston 27 miles, 
and to Fort Niagara 36 miles. The Vil- 
lage of Jitack Rock; 2 miles below Buffa- 
lo, is situated just at the foct of a consid- 
erable rapid in Niagara river, and is deem- 
ed a better site for a great trading Town 
than that of Buffalo. Its trade is cci.nsid- 
eruble and increasing. Here is the ferry 
across Niagara river. The little Village 
of yyUUamsviUe, is situated on the main 
road, 11 niiles N. E. of BufTalo, at the 
falls of Eliicott's creek. Here are 15 
dwellings, a grain-mill, 2 saw-inil!s, a ful- 
ling-mill, carding machine, and a trip- 
hammer ; and a Post-OJfice was estii blush- 
ed here in the autumn of 1812. Elicott's 
creek is boatable to within 4 miles of this 
place, where there is a descent of about 
50 feet. Tlie bridge is 210 feet lonj. In 
the S., on the Buffalo Reservation, are the 
Villages of the Seneca Indians, stretching 
along Buffalo creek. The whole number 
of these Indians may amount to 700, in 
the.se Villages, which contain titcir 
principal numbers. Their Reservation is 
divided centrally by a line E. and \V. that 
forms the S. boundary of Bufijio and 
Clarence, and liic N. line of Willinck. It 
contains about 160,000 .acres; and the 
Senccas own besides about 100,000 doj. 



142 



GAZEITEER OF NEW-YORK. 



lars in the slock of the late Bank ol'tlie U- 
nited Stales. J.W.D.V/.C. 

TU'RLiNGTov, aPost-Towiii^liip of Ot- 
sego County, 12 miles W. from Confjcrs- 
tovjn, and 78 miles W. from Albany, 
bounded N. by Exeter, E. by Otsego, S. 
by New-Lisbon, W. by Edineston. This 
Town wns erj-cicd on the first orjaiiiza- 
tin-1 of die C'.'Uiit)', but tlie \V. part was 
erected into a separate town, cr.lled Ed- 
irscslon in IS ;S. The surfp.ceorthls town 
is hilly, tho'ii;'h arable and the soil is 
very produclive. It is well watered with 
spring's and rlvu'ets, and is wellsapphed 
with mill-seats. Hutternut creek, with 
numerous branches, water the western 
part, and Otego creek the eastern, bo^h 
rnnnin;; S., bein;c waters of the Susque- 
hanna, r.s siniation is e'evated, the wa. 
ters run briskly, and the air is very shIk- 
brious. The ffivest woods, are maple, 
beech, blvf-h, elm, basswood or tllia, cher- 
r)-, and sotic b'-mlock. The population 
is 3196, the senaforlal electors 294, the 
whole niimber of taxable i;ersons 35S, 
and the property assessed in 1810, amount- 
ed to ir^,783 dollars. There are C Kap- 
tist inectin;? -houses, and 1 for CongregTi- 
lionalists, and 1 for Quakers. There ars 
rdso 7 school-houses ; and 3 grain-null.^, 
8 saw-inillj, 2 fidling-mills, a small aiv- 
furnacp, .'"id some other works of utility. 
The irhahitants are principally farmers, 
clail in the products of household indus- 
try. J; P. 

Jli'SHv.'icK, a small Township occupy- 
ing the N, Eastern extremity of Kings 
County, on Long or Nassau Island; It is 
bounded by P.ast river or the County of 
New- York on the N. VV., Queens County 
on the Vi., ".lul Southerly by Brooklyn, and 
a small an.cle on that part of F.atbush 
called J^^cr.'-to!s. The soil is principally 
a light'loam, and the surlVce consider.i- 
bly hilly, in some parts stony, though 
productive. The taxable properly as val- 
ued in 1810, 253,025 dollars, when the 
populalion w.'.s 79^, arid the numher of 
sen.itorial elcrl'irs, 79. There is 1 Dutcli 
llefortned CUuvch near the centre of the 
Towii ; and a Methodist I^lcctiiig-house 
in the little village of }l''ilUan)sljursh — 
There are 2 tide-milb, 2 school-houses, 
and 2 taveris in this Town. The inhab- 
itants are principaliy ct Diilch extraction, 
liushwick is oppo.slle the upper part of the 
city of Nev.'-Y(n'k, and there is a i'erry es- 
tablished from WiUiamsbin-gh in tliis 
Town, a pleasant thriving little Village, 
to Corlaer's Hook, on York-Island. U.ip- 
p?ars bv sorte ancient liis'oric recoi'ds, 
I' " : ' T.':'-" fhe Town of l>i.:.:-huick cot.. 



tained 25 houses, wbicl) were enclosed by 
a strong palisade defence against the Irl- 
dians. J.C.V. 

Hi'TTERNUTS, a Post-Township in (he 
S. W. part of Otsego County. 21 miles 
S. W. from Cooperstoivn, and 87 W. fr(».ni 
Albany ; bounded N. by Pittsfield, E. by 
Laurens and Otego, S. by Unadilla, W. 
by the Unadilla river or the County of 
Chenango. The soil is good for grain or 
grass, and Ti;uch of it a chocolate colored 
mold. The forest woods, maple, beech, 
birch, elm, basswood, butternut or while 
walnut, and some hemlock. It is v/ell 
watered by springs and brooks ; and But- 
ternut creek, which runs diagonally from 
the N. E. to the S. W. comer, supplies 
fibimdance of mill-seats. On the AV , it 
is washed by the Unadilla, a fine stream 
of the Susquehanna. The population is 
3181, the senatorial electors 243, the 
whole number of taxable inhabitants 425j 
and the property assessed in 1810, w:<s 
estimated at 256,718 dolKirs. There is 
an Episcopalian, ^nd a Presbyteria!« 
Church, and a respectable number of 
school-houses. There are 2 or 3 grain- 
mills, several saw-mills, a forge lor mak- 
ing bar iron, and some other water-works, 
but not enumerated by Correspondents. 
The name of this Town is derived from 
a singular growth of Butteriuit trees on 
the bank of the creek of the same name. 
The inhabitants are principally farmers, 
of plain domestic habits, wearing (he 
cloths produced in their families, from 
the growth of their own f^rms, the fittest 
and most appropriate yeomanic badge of 
honerable distinction. J. P. 

Bakers' Falls, on the Hudson, 52 
miles N. of Albany, between Kingsbtn-y 
and iMoreau, are well worthy the at- 
tention of the curious. The head of 
these Falls, commences just at the great 
bend of the river, Avhere it turns S., and 
the who'e descent is 7(3 feet within CO 
'rods. I'here is no per])endicular cataract, 
but the water winds in various irregular 
serpentine courses, evidently vjovn in the 
rock, and descends with vast r.tpidity. — 
Here, also, as at Glen's, are mills erected 
which give a laicising variety to the w ho'c 
scenery. The whole is seen at one view, 
from a projecting rock on the E. shore, 
below Baker's mills. And the traveller 
who lir,-; courage to ascei;id a branching 
tree which nature seems to have planted 
there for that purpose, will be well roin- 
pcnsaled for his trouble, by one of the 
;vir;st .'.nimated a;ul wild and picturesq> 9 
\ :ews I ever beheld. 



GAZETTEEIl OF NEW-YO«K. 



143 



Ballston-Spa, an incorporated 
Post-Village of Milton, Saryifi^^a Coun- 
ty, 26 miles N. of Alban}. \l is hand- 
somely sitwatcd in a narrow romantic 
vale, spreading toward ihe N., on a 
branch of the Kyadeross creek, and 
includes the celebrated Mineral Waters 
called Ballston Springs, noticed page 
24. Here are 110 houses and stores, 
principally situated on a single street, 
leadinj^' E. and W, and about | mile in 
les'.gth. There are several larjje bcard- 
iing-houscs, and the Sans Sonci is thought 
superior in extent to any in the United 
States. There is also an academy and a 
small meeting-house. The public and 
principal spring stands in tiie public ave- 
nue, is walled with stone and flagged, and 
enclosed by an iron railing. As a Mater- 
ing place, Ballston st;mds unrivalled ii\ 
America, both as a place of pleasant re- 
sort, and on account of the intrinsic val- 
ue of the waters. But in this view 1 also 
Include the other waters of Saratoga Coun- 
ty ; and Ballston only takes the lead at 
present as possessing better accommoda- 
lions for the company that resort therefor 
their use. 

The country immediately avounJ Ball- 
•ston-Spa is most singularly diversified, 
and that without hills or mountains The 
soil is principally a light sand or sandy 
loam, originally covered with fine groves 
of white pine, considerable of which still 
remains. See Saratoga County, page 100. 

NL. 

Bangor, Post-Office, see Dickinson. 

Baenegat, or IjImesto:^e, the 
name of a place on the E. shore of the 
H\iclson, in the Township of Hoiighkeep- 
sivj, 5 miles S. of the borough, wliere 
are a great number of Lime Kilns, and 
soni'o few iniiabitants employed; in the 
nianufacture of lime. Limestone is ve- 
ry abundant hereabouts, and great quan- 
tities of excellent lime are sent annu- 
ally to New- York, a distance of 75 
luiles. Several sloops and vessels arc 
constantly employed in this trade, and 
about 50 persons. There are 12 or 15 
Kilns, within the distance of A mile, 
about 10 or 12 houses, and as many fam- 
ilies. 

Baiting-Hollow, see Riverhead. 

Batten-Kill, a gocjd mill-stream 
tliat rises in Vermont, and runs wester- 
ly through VVashingion Couniy. into the 
Hudson, about H mileb^low Fort-Mil- 
ler Bridge, and opposite Saratoga, {, 
mile abo\e I'ish Creek, forniing the 
boundaries beluttn Salcin, CambiJdge, 



Granville and Easton. Its whole course 
is about 50 miles, S'l. or which arc in 
lliis state, and it is one of the Lest of 
streams for mills. It no .v supplies :\bout 
20 grain and saw-ipills, 2 large Cotton 
factories, 4 or 5 fuliing-niills, several 
caiding-m.achines, Irip-haranicrs, S;.c.f 
and many good sites are yet uniniprovcd, 
A good wooden bridge is erected across 
the Batten-Kill, about 'J 5 rods from ils 
entrance into the Hudson. Sec Union 
Village, in Cambridge and Easton. 

BsAVER Creek, a mill-stream that 
rises in the Counties of Ulster and Sul- 
livan, and runs westwai-d through the 
S. W. part of Delaware County, into 
the Papachton branch of the Delaware, 
lis v.'hole course is about 35 miles, 

Beaver Dam, Post-Ofnce, see CoL- 

CflF.STER. 

BEr«roRD, see BROotci.yN. 

Bethlehem Creek, or Vlaman's 
Kill, is a small slrcam of Bethlehem, Al- 
bany couniy, that enters the Hudson 7i 
miles below Albany. It has mills near its 
mouth. 

Bettsburgh, Post-Office, setJERi. 

CHO. 

Black Lake, sometimes called Os- 
wegatchie Lake, a water of St. Law- 
rence County, about 20 miles inlcng'h, 
from i mile to 2^ nides wide, witli r.u- 
nierous small islands. It extends N.E. 
and S. W., nearly par.-illcl willi ti>e St. 
Lawrence, about 4 miles E. of that riv- 
er. This l:\l:e seems a mere exjjansiou 
of Indian river, which it receives at the 
foot of a fine cascade, wliere is laid out 
the village plat named liosa, and some 
uiills erected : Its outlet enters liic ()s- 
wegatchie river, alter runv.ing 2 or 3 
miles. From tiiis outlet lo tl'o St. Law- 
rence is 7 miles ; and a good iioit', nav- 
igation extends lo the head oiii.e Lskc, 
27 miles, for boi'ls of 10 tons burden. 

Black River, so called from »l;c co- 
lor of its water, is tiie od in rr.;igni; ude 
that has its whole course in Ncw-Vork. 
It rises in the highlands northward of thft 
Little Falls, and the Mcluiv.k, and iis 
head branches interlock with those of the 
Hudson, and W. Canada creek; pursu- 
ing a Northerly course of about 120 miles, 
falls into Hungry ba_v, r.ear the outlet of 
Lake Ontario. Its width is about 18 
rods, at Lowville, 40 miles from its mouth, 
and between the falls, has water for good 
batteau navigation, li is a deep, sluggish 
stream, but the navigation is much in- 
terrupted by falls. Tiie Long Falls, ex, 
tend 14 miles, and from the head of these 



144 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



intl'.eTo.vn of Champion, to the High 
rails in Turin, is 45 miles, with a smooth 
sii-facc. The rock, which underlays the 
bed of this river, is a peculiar granite in 
ti.is c(mntry, tho' it approaches much 
nsJrcr that "of Europe, tlian most of tlie 
rocks so call id, in America. Tlie si- 
iex supphcs the place of the calcnreous 
mat(cr, which usually forms a considera- 
ble part of our fjranite. The land on the 
borders of the Black river, is ffenerally a 
ricli, dark colored mold, vevy fertile, and 
rapidly settling. 

Black Rock, Village, see Buffalo. 
It is situated on the Niag.ira river, 2 miles 
below the village of Buffalo, and at the 
ferry across Nia,^-ara river to Canada. — 
The river is here about 3 quarters of a 
mile wide, and runs with a very strong 
current. The ferriage at this place is 
charged at the rate of 25 cents for a sin- 
gle person, and 50 for a man and horse. 

Eloomingburgh, see Mamaica- 

TING. 

Bou(i.UET River, rises in Essex 
County and runs Westward into Lake 
Champlain, about 23 miles N. of Crown 
Point. It rises in Scroon, runs through 
Elizabethtown, (within 60 rods of the 
county buildings at the village of Plea- 
sant Valley,) Lewis, and Willsborough, 
v.here it enters the Lake. Its whole 
course is about 35 miles, and it has ma- 
ny brauches, which alford a vast many 
mill-seats. It is only boatable about 2 
miles, where are falls and mills. The 
remains of an entrenchment, at this 
place, thrown up by Gen. Burgoyne, 
give it a degree of historic importance. 
BouTON Hill, see Bloomfield. 
Eraddock's Bay, on the S. shor© 
of Lake Ontario, in Genesee County, 
iibout 5 miles W. of the mouth of Gen- 
esee river, in the Town of Gates. 

Brainard's Bridge, Pysl-Otfice, see 
Nassau: 

Breakneck Hill, a high precipitous 
iiiU, close on the margin of tbe Hudson, 
at its entrance 'into the Highlands, about 
CO ml»es N. of Nciw- Yo-.k. It stands oppo- 
fcite Butter-Hill on the W. shore, and is 
remarkable as containing the rock called 
St. Anthony's 'Soic. 

Brewek TON Fort, or Brewing TO X, 
the site of this Fort, which is now in en- 
tire ruins but still to be liaccd, is on tl^e 
margin ami just at the Wend of Oneida 
Lake, a''Out 25 miles S. E. of Oswego 
i'ort. The only present remains, is a 
mound uf earth where were its walls, in 
the shape of a star as drawn with its di- 
vergent rays. See CONSTANTIA. 



Bridge-Hampton, Post-Office, se« 
Southampton. 

Bronx Creek, a stream of West- 
chester County, rises just on the S. line of 
Newcastle, and runs S. to East Uiver in 
the Town of Westchester, between Mo- 
vissania and Throg's Neck. Its whole 
course may be about 28 niiles, in wbicU 
it supplies many mill-seats. 

Broome County, see page 65. 
Buffalo Creek, a considerable 
stream that rises in Genesee county, and 
runs westward through Niagara county, 
into Niagara river, immediately at the 
outlet of Lake Erie. This creek is boat- 
able but 8 miles, and has many cascades. 
Buffalo Village, or New-Amsterdam, is 
at the mouth of this creek ; and the hen- 
eca Indians have some Towns contain- 
ing about 700 souls, 5 miles liom its 
mouth. See Buffalo Village. A 
division of the Onondaga Tribe, is also 
settled on this creek, 7 miles irom us 
mouth. See Indians. This stream has 
many branches. 

BuTTERHiLL,a high cobble hill on tha 
W. side of Hudson river, opposite Break- 
neck hill, at the N. entrance of the High- 
lands. These are the northern hills of 
the Highland chain, and the view of the 
upper country opens at once, on ascend- 
ing the river, as we pass these hills ; when 
the flourishing Villages of New-Vv'indsor, 
New-Burgii, and Fislikill, together with 
tlie diversities of surface, improved farm- 
lands, &.C., present a charming contrast 
to the rude scenery we hare just left be- 
hind us. 

Butternuts, a fine stream that I'ises 
in Exeter, Otsego county, and runs S. to 
the Un-adilla, in the S. W. corner of the 
town of Butternuts. Its whole coursii 
about 30 miles. 

Byram River, a small stream that ri- 
ses in W. Chester Co , and runs S. into 
Long-Island Sound about 26 miles N. E. 
ii'om New-York; forming, for a short dis- 
tance, the boundary line between Connect- 
icut, and New- York, though its principal 
course is in the latter state. 

Big Flats, P. O., see Elmira. 



c. 



Cairo, a Post-Township of Greene 
Countv, 10 miles about N. W. from 
Calski'll Village, 11 W. of Athens on 
the Hudson, erected in 1803, and called 
Canton till 1808 ; bounded Northerly by 
Durham and G^-eencviik, E. by Cox- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



145 



ackie. Southerly by Catskill,* Wester- 
ly by Windham or Jhe summit of the 
Catsbergs or Catskill mountains. Its 
medial extent is near 7^ miles square, 
though its form is irrepi'ular. The sur- 
face is considerably broken, and the W. 
part hilly ; but along" the creeks are rich 
tracts of alluvion, while the intervening 
lands are of a good quality, and but mo- 
derately uneven. The Catskill, crosses 
the N. E. part, and is a good mill stream, 
receiving Sliingle Kill from the S. W., 
another mill-stream. The wliole popu- 
iation of tliis Town, in ISIO, was 2055, 
13 of wliich are slaves ; and tliere are 
1(32 senatorial electors. The taxable 
property, as assessed in 1810, amounted 
to 191,043 dollars. Its surplus products, 
which are conveyed to Catskill, (Vil- 
lai;e,) and to Athens, consist of grain, 
trailed and fresh provisions, lumber, and 
butter and cheese. This Town has some 
Iron works, and a competent number of 
mills of different kinds. Tiie Susque- 
hanna tiu-npike passes Ihnough this 
Town, and on this road at the crossing 
of the Shingle-Kill is a flourishing little 
Village called Cairo, where the public 
business of the Town is transacted. 
Here is the Post-Ofiice, a handsome 
Presbyterian Meeting-kouse, several 
stores, shops. Sec, some valuable mills, 
und a central place for roads. N.T. 

Caldwell, a Post-Township of 
Washington County 62 miles N. of Al- 
bany, erected in ISIO, and named in 
honor of James Caldwell, Esq., a prin- 
cipal proprietor, and a liberal benefac- 
tor. It comprises the S. end of Lake 
George, an extent of about 7 miles, and 
is bounded N. by Bolton, E. by Fort- 
Anne, S. by Qtieensbury, W. by Tlmr- 
man and Luzerne. Tiie surface of this 
Towiiihi}) is much broken, and many of 
its liills aspire to the name of mountains, 
'i'he general surface is elevated, and 
tliai of Lake George also, which beau- 
tiful sheet of clear water penetrates 
from the N. E. corner, and occupies the 
ctntra! part of this Town. S. of the 
Ik ad of the Lake is an elevated hilly 
tract that slopes 2 or 3 miles toward the 
Lake; and Rattlesnake hill rises on the 
W. side to a lofty height, within 1 mile 

* Tormship, for in this County, Catskill 
or Calicreek is indiscriminately applied to 
a Town or Toivnehip, to a creek, to moun- 
iaiJ^s, hiils, villages, &c. &c., absurdities in 
sseorrraphical Usicription that demand at- 



of the S. end of the Lake, extending N. 
for a great distance, but gradually re- 
ceding from the water. On the E. side, 
the hills are equally high, and present 
but a narrow border of rough arable 
lands for the husbandman. Scroon riv- 
er, or the E. branch of the Hudson, ap- 
proaches wit])in about 5 miles of Lake 
George, and forms a small part of the 
Western boundary of Caldwell : and 
there are some small streams that supply 
mills. Bloody pond near the S. line of 
this Town is of very small importance, 
but tiiat it has a place in history. To 
conceive the gent:ral aspect of this coun- 
ty, imagine yourself on an eminence of 
near 300 feet, looking into a deep valley 
on the N., occupied by the waters of L. 
George, at tiie distance, nearly, of 3 
miles, and extending northerly 36 miles. 
On the E. and W., studded by parallel 
ridges of craggy mountains, rising 
gently from the water for a few rods, 
then with a bolder acclivity and mount- 
ing to a general elevation of 500, 600, 
to near 1000 feet in some lofty summits, 
tufted witli dwarf evergreens. Lake 
George lies before you, from J to near 4 
miles wide, fancifully speckled with 
small islands, and in full view for the 
distance of 17 miles. The village of 
Caldwell, on the W. shore, at the head 
of the Lake, presents a pleasing specta- 
cle, and beyond it are farms, fields and 
forests, as far as the eye can reach. 
The E. shore is more wild, and less sus- 
ceptible of cultivation. The forest-ti'ees 
are, first deciduous, on the arable lands, 
then intermixed with evergreens, till at 
length pine, hemlock, spruce and fir as- 
sert their own prerogatives, and clotht 
the moiuitain-side with perpetual ver- 
dure. 

This Town has at present but a thin 
population ; in 1810, the whole number 
of persons amounted to 560 : and there 
are ,63 senatorial electors. The land.s 
are principally held by lease from James 
Caldwell, Esq., and the trade by the 
lake is considerable and increasing-. 
Rafts ascend this lake Tvitli timber, &c., 
with a N. wind and without difficulty. 
A road from Glen's falls on the Hudson, 
through the Village of Caldwell, to 
Scroon river and the country on the N., 
brings much business this way ; and 
opens a neJM'er and better road to Cana- 
da, than that on the E. side of Lakes 
George and Champlain. There is also 
a road along the W. shore. Caldwell 
VUlage, at the head of the Lake, has 



146 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



about 40 bouses, stores, &c., a I'ost-Oi". 
fice of the name of tlie Town, and a 
small Church with a steeple and bell, 
built at the expense of tlie Proprietor. 
Near this Vllla.q-e on the N., are mills 
erected ou a small stream from the 
^Tiountain on the West. At the S. end 
of the lake are the ruins of Fort William 
Henrv; and near limse.of F. George also; 
places of very considerable im|iortance 
in the early wars of this country. On 
the 5tii of July 1758, General Abcrcrom- 
bie embarked here witli an army of 
15,395-effcc'v;yc men, in 1035 boats, be- 
s'tdt's several > afts mounting- cannon, and 
descended ihe Lake for an attack on Ti- 1 
conderoga. In that attack he was re- 
pulsed, with the loss of 1941 men, and 
I-ord Howe, one of the best officers in) 
America; and on the 9th at night re- 1 
turned to the encampment here v. itu the 
remainder of the army. Fort George 
was built of stone, and its works are 
\ct to be seen, thoug-h in perfect ruins, 
blamond Island in Lake George, was 
once fortified, and of some importance. 
Asaplace of resort, in connexion with 
the Springs of Saratoga County, Cald- 
well attracts considerable notice, and 
few similar waters in the world are 
more admired than Lake George. The 
surrounding scenery is highly pictur- 
esque, and no person of taste can fail 
to be delighted with its beauties. I'he 
Lake abounds with fish for the angler, 
.such as trout, pike, Oswego bass— and 
salmon trout are taken weighing 20 
pounds; — good houses of accommoda- 
tion are here, with every convenience 
for enjoying all the various pleasures 
liiat a phace of this kind can afford. 
Tea Island, near the W. shore and 2 
niiles from the head of the Lake is a 
curiosity. The exterior line is nearly 
i\ circle^ and a Rmall opening on tiie E. 
side receives the water which spreads 
within, and covers near one third of the 
^iwrface. A handsome summer-house is 
erected here for tea parties. See tlie 
Narrows of Lake George. 

K.E.ScW.R. 
Caledonia, a I'ost-Township of 
Genesee County, 10 miles E. of Bata- 
-aia, and 246 miles from Albany, on the 
great road to IJufi'alo ; bounded N. by 
Murray and Riga, E. by Genesee river 
or the County :)f Ontario, S. by Leices- 
ter, W. by Batavia. It was called South- 
ampton, and received its present name 
in 1806. Allan's creek, a fine miU- 
iiti'cam, winds across tliis Town to Gen- 



esee river, and it receives some branch- 
es also ill this Town. The great road 
from Albany to Niagara County crosses 
this Tow-n centrally, and adds much to 
its value. It is a good tract of land, 
moderately uneven or quite level, ex- 
cept, in the N. wliei-e are some .of the 
extensive ledges noticed under Genesee 
County. The Great or Big Spring in 
this Town, is said to be a curiosity. On 
the main road, 10 miles E. of Batavia, 
\s Lc Itoy ViUiige, which contains about 
30 houses, stores, &c. The population 
of this Town in 1810, was 2355, with 
55 senatorial electors ; and the taxable 
property was assessed at a Valuation of 
154,074 dollars. R.S. N.T 

Cambria,, a large Township at tlic 
N. end of Niagara County, about 2j 
miles N. and E..oi Buffalo ; bounded W . 
by Niagara river, N. by Lake Ontario, 
E. by Genesee County, S. by Tonne- 
wanta creek or the Towns of Clarence 
and Sufialo. It comprises an e:itent E. 
! and W. oi 28 miles, and abeut 16 N. 
and S., in which are 3 Post-Off ces ; 
Jnanchesler P. O., Leivistotun P. O., and 
Fort JMuffara P. Offce. See those Vil- 
lages, separately described, under the 
alphabetical order of their names. — 
See also FoTiT-ScHi.ossER, Niagara 
Falls, Youis'gstown, and Tuscaro- 
RA, all of wiiich belong to this Town. 
The slope of land that forms tlie Falls 
of Niagara, extends across this Town 
{'rem W. to E., the summit of wliieh is 
about 330 feet above the level of Lake 
Ontario, .it the distance of 7 to 9 miles. 
From its base to Lake Ontario, the land 
has a gentle slope, and is of a good 
quality ; as it is also from its summit to 
Lake Erie, with but a moderate degree 
of uuevenness. Near the foot of this 
ledge or terrace, is the Alluvi alV/ay, 
a singular and stupendous work of na- 
ture, which see. The Tonnewanta 
creek forms the Southern boundary ; 18 
mile creek, in the N. E., runs toLake 
Ontario, and there are some other small 
streams. Eui the Niagara river, which 
falls 50 feet witlun a half mile above the 
Falls, supplies mill seats in vast abund- 
ance. The whole popuUition of Cam- 
bria, in 1810, was 1465, widi 20 scna- 
lorial electors. Ihe land is held prin- 
cipally by right of soil, from tlie Hol- 
land Company, which still cjwns a large 
part of the wiiole Township. Its pr«- 
ducts embrace all the variety common 
to this climate, and in good abundance. 
The winters arc more mild Ihun furtlicr 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



J47 



E., in the same parallels of latitude, and 
))eaches are raised in very fjood perfec-. 
tion, wltii tlie melon and otiier fruits of 
a warm climate. 7'lie pawpaw is found 
»n tiie wood.?, iiT some places, though 
not plentifiiliy diffused as on tlie Ohio, 
Wabash, 8cc. 1'he unequal population 
and great extent of this Town, demand 
Tnuch of local detail, as well as on ac- 
couat of the acknowledg-ed importance 
and gencr.tl celebrity of some of its 
Topng'rapliical positions. FoiH J\'ian-arn, 
is situated at Ih.e N. W. extremity, at 
the mouth of Niagara river, wliich is 
navigable 7 miles to Leiviston, at the 
foot of tlie portage around the Falls of 
Niagara. The Portasre is 8 miles, ter- 
minatintj at Fort Sclilosser, H mile 
above J^Ianchesti'r, or Grand J^'iag-nva, 
^vhicll is situated about 100 rods ai)ove 
tlie great Fall or I'itch of Niagara. The 
I'ortage road leads over a tract of strong 
fat clay. From Fort Schlosser, the 
trade is in boats of about 15 tons to 
Black Rock or Buffalo, in the Town of 
Buffalo. The litscarora licservation lies 
about 2i miles E. of Lewistcn, where 
the Tuscarora Indians reside. Tiieir 
whole numbers are supposed to amount 
to near 300 souls. Younjs'o-Mn is 1 mile 
above Fort-Niagara. Tliis Town is ra- 
pidly increasing in population, whicli 
■was nearly doubled in the years 1810 
and 1811. A.P., &J.H. 

Cambridge,! large Post-To wn»hip, 
in tlio S. E. corner of Wasliington Coun- 
ty, on tlie Northern Turnpike, 55 miles 
N. E. of Albany, 12 miles S. of A'«/e»« ,- 
hounded N. by Batten- Kill creek, or 
tlie Towns of Greenwich and Salem, 
E. by the State of Vermont, S. by the 
County of Rensselaer, W. by Easton. 
Its medial extent N. and S. 11 miles, E. 
and W. 10 miles, aud the area 110 square 
miles. On the N., it is washed by the 
liattcn-Kiit, a fine mill-stream I'rom 
Vermont, and Hoosac creek crosses a 
fev/ miles of the S. part, anotlicr good 
mill stream. Little White creek cros- 
ses the S. E. corner, and meeting Wul- 
loomscox creek just on the S. line, runs 
W . into Hoosac creek, before mention- 
ed. The surface of this 'i'ownship is 
considerably broke;i, and some p:irt 
slong the S. and E. line is Isllly ; but it 
has a large proportion of easy arable 
laud. The W. part is but gently undu- 
h'ted, and its shislic gravel forms an ex- 
cellent medium soil, well adapted I'or 
a change of crops. The Northern Tiirn- 
pikc irom Lansingburgh to WtUs in 



Vermont, leads tlu-ougli this Town, and 
is one of the best turnpikes in the State ; 
and besides this are nrmierous other 
roads. The eastern part of this Town 
skirts {.he western border of the ferru- 
ginous hiliS of Vermont, and may in 
time be found to contain iron-ore ; 
some indications are shov.n of marble 
also, and slate is found of a pretty good 

I quality. St, Coick, and Walloomscoic, 
in tiie S. Eastern extremity, are local 
names ihr early settlements tlrere bv 
some Diitc'ii families. Arlington and 
SliaftsbiuT, in Vermont, adjoin this 
Town on the East; its latitude 43o, 
The whole population in 1810, 67.S0 ; 
and the Senatorial Electors 6H). Ccm- 
hrid^c has a handsome but very small 
Villyge of the sam.e name ; and there is 
anotlier called lAltle Whil^ Creek, on 
.which it stands ;— the first 35, the oth- 
er 36 miles N, E. of Albany, neitlier of 
which are on the N. turnpike. Little 
White Creek Village has 15 dwellings, 
-i^church and an academy, situated in the 
S. E. corner, 1 mile W. of Vermont 
li'-- B.M.,&W.T. 

Camden, a Post -Town ship of Onei- 
da County, one tier of Towns N. of 
Oneida lake, watered by the W. branch 
of Fish creek. It consists of 2 Town- 
ships, Linly and Bloomfield, on De 
Witt's Maps, being about 12 miles E. 
and VV., and 6 N. and S. It is bounded 
N. by Florence, E. by Western, S. by 
Bengal, W^. by Wiltiamstown. It is 
well watered by the W. branch of Fish 
creek, and its branches, which afford 
abundance of good sites for mills. TIio: 
upland, is generally uneven, tlio' not 
mountainous, but along the rivers and 
creeks, tl»e flats are extensive and tlic 
soil very rich and productive, being a 
ii:m(!.y loam, easy of tillage. The whole 
may be pronounced an excellent body of 
land, better r.<l;>pted for gr ciin, than most 
of tiie surroup.divig counirv. The tim- 
ber, is mostly beech, maple, basswood 
and some h.cmlock and a few groves of 
•vliite-pine, all of luxuriant grov/th. 
This Town has rapidly increased in pop- 
ulation and wealth, having been settled 
about 12 years, and it now contains about 
1100 inhabitants, principally farmers 
from Connecticut. It has 1 Congrega- 
tional churcli, and 7 school-hou'ie.s. Tl.-e 
society is good, and the inhabitents are 
remarkably frugal and indust^iou.s. 
Mills, roads, bridges, &c., are in con- 
venient abundance, and there are a pret- 

j tv competent number of coir.iaon rae- 



148 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



chanics. The population in 1810, was | 
1132, with 178 electors. _ P.T. I 

Camillus, a Post-Township of On- 
oiirla.^a County, 10 miles N. W. of On- 
onduka, and 160 Westerly of Albany ; 
bounded N. by Cross Lake, Seneca riv- 
,cr or the Town of Lysander; E. by Sa- 
lina nnd Onondaga, S. by Marcellus, 
W. by Cayuga County. The Seneca 
river which forms the northern bounda- 
ry, affords good facilities for boat navi- 
jration ; anathe streams that issue from 
Skcneatcies and Olisco Lakes, run 
across the W. and E. parts, while in the 
central are some smaller streams, and all 
together supply abundance of fine sites 
for mills. The southern part of Camil- 
lus is somewhat hilly, but the northern 
quite level, and the soil is pi-incipaliy a 
•warm r.nd fertile srmdy loam. A small 
pond of 2 or 2i acres," on the turnpike, 
4 miles from the W. line, constantly 
emits a strong smell of sulphur. The 
Otisco outlet, commonly called 9 mile 
creek, but better Otisco Creek, curves 
N. Eastward toward Onondaga Lake 
in Salina ; within i mile of this and 
about 60 rods S. of the N. branch of the 
Seneca turnpike, is an extensive mine 
of gypsum of an excellent quality. This 
is on lot 90, in the S. E. corner of Ca- 
laillus, a Township of the military tract, 
and \he Otisco creek is navigable from 
Salt or Onondaga Lake to this road. A 
small Village is forming here, celled 
Gypsnmhirgh. This valuable mineral 
was first discovered in 1792 by a Mr. 
"WiUiam Linsdav, on the E. side of a 
hill about 90 feet high ; and in May 
1809, an incorporated company purcha- 
sed the land and commenced digging. 
100 tons were said in 1810. The min- 
eralogy of this Town, like that of the 
whole'county, is highly interesting ; but 
it requires personal inspection to give 
its details with the precision belonging 
to science. 

The religious denominations are Bap- 
lists, Congregationalists and Metho- 
flists, of which there are small societies, 
but no churches yet erected, though 
there are 9 school-houses. This Town 
WHS first settled in 1790, and the popu- 
lation in 1810 was 2388, the 6enatori.il 
electors 194. There are 4 or 5 grain- 
mills, 7 sitw-mills, 2 clcthieries and a 
card ing-njach inc. There are 2 turn- 
Tjikes leading westward, besides sotr.e 
others in other directions and numerous 
common roads: and there are 2 bridges 
aciess Seneca liver into Lysander, tiic 



one a toll-bridge, the other free, being 
8 miles apart. The lanqs are held in 
fee, by industrious husbandmen. There 
are 2 small Villages, on Skcneateles and 
Otisco creeks, both on the Western 
turnpike. T.A.,8cB.B. 

Canaan, a Township in the N. E. 
corner of Columbia County, 25 miles S. 
E. of Albany, and 23 N. E. of Hudson ; 
bounded N. by Rensselaer County, E, 
by the state of Massachusetts, S. by 
Hillsdale, W. by Chatham. It has a 
Pos^-O^ce at the Village of AV-ru-Zeia- 
iion, known by the name of that Village, 
which is 24. miles from Albany on the 
Turnjiike toward Pittsfield in Massa- 
chusetts. The aiea of this Town may 
be 77 .square miles, the length N. and 
S. being 11 m/iles, with a medial width 
of 7. This extent must necessarily 
embrace a diversity of surface and 
soil, too great for exact general de- 
scription. And that range of hills noti- 
ced under Mountains, page 9, as also 
page 70, traverse this tracj in a N. and 
S. direction, and are of such extent and 
altitude, as to have a considerable effect 
on the climate.* In some instances they 
aspire with pretty confident assurance 
to the character of mountains, attaining 
altitudes of 300 to near 500 feetj pre- 
senting, liowever, continuous rather 
than lofty detached summits, and shroud- 
ed with a stinted growth of mountain 
shrubbery. But, with these minute no- 
tices of, the hills or mountains, we must 
also note the vallies which are extensive, 
presenting a light easy soil, warm and 
productive ; and on the whole, about 8 
tenths may be arable land. And there 
are fine tracts of alluvion, such as that 
of the vale of New-Lebanon, besides 
others in various parts of the Town, 
though less extensive. The hills noti- 
ced above are principally shistic, "or, a 
mixture of slate with stlicious or flinty 
stones and soils ; and occasional ledges 
of calcareous stones that yield lime of a 
good quality, though these are princi- 
pally confined to the vallies. In these, 
the soil is mostly a light shistic gravel, 
intermixed with mold and of considera- 
ble depth ; and though too light fov 
wheat after the thin covering of vegeta- 
ble mold is exhausted, yet being warm 
and lij^ht i;; easily restored by good hus- 
bandry and a skilful rotation of crops.j 

• See Climate, Seasons, anJWnds, 
page 12. 

I See Soil avH Agriculture, prg- 17. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



149 



Of its tnineralog-v little else can be said 
than that it yields slate of a g-ood quali- 
ty, lime-stone, some lead-ores in the 
form of galena, which as usual ha%-e been 
found to contain a small portion of sil- 
ver, some samples of an inferior quality 
of iron-ore, and a cortsiderable variety of 
mag'uesian stones, including some ele- 
gant serpeniines foimd on the hills a- 
round the vale of New-Lebanon. The 
Spring or Pool there, is a mere thermal 
Mater, warmed to the temperature of 
72'^ of Fahi'enheit, and is not character- 
ised b}'^ any mineral in solution, or otlier 
medicinal properties than as a tepid bath, 
furnished from the great laboratory of 
nature. Tliis Spring is kept constantly 
in ebullition by a copious emission of 
azotic-gas ; but its waters are used with- 
out injury in all the culinary and other 
uses of house-keeping, immediately af- 
ter they rise at tlie Spring-, See New- 
Lebaxon-. The creek that winds along 
.this valley, supplies several sites for 
mills, watering all the northern part ; 
and Whiting's Pond, a fine sheet of pure 
water, near 5 miles in circumference, 
situated in the E. part, discharges a 
small mill-stream thatci'osses this Town 
centrally, running westward, and has 
fine and extensive sites for mills imme- 
diately at the outlet of the pond. Kline 
kill or little creek, crosses the S.W. cor- 
ner, and there are some other small 
streams that supply mill-seats, all waters 
of the N. brimch of Factory or Abram's 
creek, which enters the Hudson 4 miles 
above tlie city of Hudson ; — besides a 
sntall sti-eam in the S. E. corner tliat runs 
eastward into the Housatonic of Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut. 

The population in 1810 was 4941, of 
which number 20 arc slaves, and there 
are 606 senatorial electors. The land is 
held in fee-simple by its occupants, ar.d 
its agriculture is respectable and im- 
proving. Tlic use of gypsum as a ma- 
nure is no where more beneficial, and it 
has nearly doubled the value of the 2d 
quality of farm-lands within the last 10 
years, as it has more than doubled their 
jn-odiicts. The inhabitants are princi- 
pally farmers, amongst whom a laudable 
pride is prevailing for domestic manu- 
factures. There are 27H looms in fami- 
lies, which produce annually 140,000 yds. 
of woollen and linnen cloths. There are 
9 graln-niiUs, several saw-mills, 4 full- 
ing-mills, 5 carding-machines, an oil- 
mill, a manufactory of gun-]3owder, and 
too many sin;;!l distilleries of grain and 
fruit spirits. Tlie roads arc g'ood, and 



conveniently disposed. The Albany turn- 
pike to New-Lebanon, is noticed alrea- 
dy ; and there is a turnpike from Hud- 
son to the same place, the eastern part of 
which is now abandoned by the company, 
by consent of the Legislatm-e. It was 
injudiciously laid, and proved unprofita- 
ble to the stockholders. There are 2 
Presbyterian meeting-houses, 1 at New- 
Lebanon, and 1 near the centre of the 
town, besides a Baptist meeting-house, 
and 1 for the Shakers, who have a con- 
siderable village in New-Lebanon. 

This Township was first settled about 
1760, and was then a part of what was 
called King's district. Its early inhabi- 
t.ants suffered much in the Revolutionary 
war, by its general burdens, and by the 
alternate persecutions of Whig and To- 
ry. Canaan was cue of the Towns organ- 
ized in 1788, but its extent has been les- 
sened by the erection of the Town of 
Chatham, in 1795. The general aspect of 
this Township, to an observing stranger, 
is that of a hilly, broken countrj', inter- 
spersed with extensive and pleasant val- 
lies of a light and unproductive soil. And 
such, too, is the fii'st impression of the 
general chai-acter of the western boixler 
of this hilly ti'act, which extenc^s across 
Columbia and Dutchess Counties. But 
time, which discloses many secrets, will 
shew here a tract of country excelled by 
few in the state for the various products 
of field and gai'den agriculture. Tillage 
and good husbandry, with a careful rota- 
tion or change of crops, will constantly 
enrich this shistic gravel, and render the 
soil more loamy, and more productive ; 
wiiile the favorite soils of the present 
age, losing their superabundance of ve- 
getable mold, will depreciate in value 
and products, till the black muck vales 
of the westei'n region, having- enjoyed 
tlieir day, shall yield their piide to the 
neglected shistic gravel of Columbia and 
Dutchess. This minuteness of detail is 
indulged here, iar beyond the extent of 
my general plan, because an extensive 
tract of country embraced by the range 
of hills that pervade Canaan, requires, 
somevvlierc, separate and very particular 
notice : and this article will serve as a 
kind of reference from the other Towns. 
Nor ought the v/inds, or their influence 
on the climate to be forgotten. East of 
these hills, the Atlantic E. winds are ve- 
ry common; but W. of them, very r.u-e, 
because of tb.e prevailing curreius chat 
follow the course of the iiudson, and ex- 
tend their infiuence over the broad basin 
of that river. The influence of thtse 
20 



150 



GAZETTESR OF NEW-YORK. 



hills, therefore, in the modifications of 
iocitl temperatures, Winds and weather, 
is too considerable to escape notice { and 
Ihoug-h all these circumstances seem fri- 
volous in detailed observation, yet they 
are of extensive use, and ought to be 
known, especially to the practical farm- 
er. In the Atlantic states, the E. winds 
are usually very humid, and they carry 
with them this'qnality fiir inland from 
the sea-coast. And it must be recollect- 
ed that mountains and hills, by disturb- 
ini^ the regular currents of air, precipi- 
tate their vapors, as Well as serve for 
conductors of them in calm weather ; 
thus it is that these elevated tracts have 
more rain than the circumjacent plains. 
Kor is it uncommon to observe a great 
difference in the quantity of the i'ains of 
summer :— while the Towns on the E.side 
of these hills have abundance of rain, it 
often happens that those on the W. side 
have long- and severe droughts. And it of- 
ten happens, too, that an E. wind on the E. 
side andeven the summits of these ridges, 
becomes a S. wind when it descends to 
the western side, and that with diminish- 
ed or increased force according to the 
velocity of tho-ie it finds in the valley of 
the Hudson. And thus, too, have I of- 
ten seen that an eastern storm of snow 
•which covered the hills and the whole 
country adjacent on the E., was convert- 
ed into a rain-storm from the S., extend- 
ing far over the country on the W. side 
of these hills. Sometimes I have observ- 
ed a warm humid air, loaded with va- 
j)ors from the E., but witliout cither 
rain or snow, descending to the valley ol' 
the Hudson, meet there a dry, cold N. 
wind, and produce a very copious tail of 
snow. Tliese may be facts that have 
escapod general observation ; but during 
12 years'^ tliat I have carefully studied 
the meteorology of this region, I find 4 
such instances recorded in my memoran- 
da, .'^len the whole country on the W. 
and S, as far as the eye could reach, was 
Iiandsoniely covered with snow for sled- 
cling, besides several instances of inferi- 
or note. But even a line has its borders ; 
and the hills of the eastern towns in Co- 
lumbia, though but 12 to 15 and 20 miles 
E. of the Hudson, have a later harvest 
l)y 10, 12, and 15 days than the waimer 
vtdlie.s on the margin of tiiat river. Cher- 
ries and other fruits ripen later also, 
and the migratory birds seem critically 
observant of this difference in tlie seasons. 
Since the above was partly in type, Ca- 
naan is become a Post-Town, in 1813. 
E.n., £^ W.S. 



CANAjoHAniE,* a Post-Township, in 
the S. part of Montgomery County, on l^ie 
S. side of the Mohawk river, 49 miles N. 
of W. from Albany, 15 S. W. of Johis- 
toivn ; bounded northerly by the Mo- 
hawk river, or the Town of Palatine, E. 
by Charleston, southerly by Schoharie 
and Otsego Counties, westerly by Mirt- 
den. The surface is considerably une- 
ven, but the hills admit of cultivation, 
and have a strong, durable soil. The 
lands are generally rich, well cultivated 
and productive. Wheat is the staple 
product for market. It is well watered 
by small rivulets that run into the Mo- 
hawk; and by some good mill-streams- 
The largest of these is Canajoharie or 
Bowman's creek, which has several cas- 
cades and fine mill-seats ; and it receives 
Platte-kill, another mill-stream, from 
Sharon, in Schoharie County. The N. 
W. corner I'eaches to Olsquaga creek. 
Thei-e is 1 turnpike leading westward 
through this town, on which the distance 
to Albany is 49 miles, while on that on 
the N. side of the MoliaAvk it is 56 miles. 
There is also a turnpike from the mouth 
of Canajoharie creek to Duanesburgh, 
and the common roads are numerous and 
good. The descendants of the early 
German inhabitants possess the most of 
this Township; and, in common with the 
farmers of the adjacent Towns, retain 
their national prejudices for grain and 
horses, much to their own detriment. — 
There are 3 Dntch Reformed Churches, 
and 1 for Baptists, with about 25 school- 
houses. The population in 1810 was 
4010 ; the senatorial electors 326 ; and 
the taxable lU'operty amounted to 542,- 
941 dollars, agreeable to the assessment 
of taxes that year. The inhabitants are 
princijjall)' farmers ; and witii a growing 
taste for household manufactures, are 
improving' in husbandry. Canajoharie 

* This name is of Indigenal origin, and 
Cana-jox-harie, as spoken by the J\lo' 
hawks, signifies the pot or kettle that 
washes itself. This name -was given by 
the JMolunuk Indians to a deep hole of foam- 
ing water at the foot of one of the fulls of 
Canajoharie creek ; from which it became 
Che common 7iame of that stream, and of an 
extensive tract of country around it- At 
an early period it -was recognised in the 
laws of the Colony and State of Aew-l'ork 
as the name of a District, and thence of 
a Township. This name ought to be pre- 
served for the creek, though Jiowman^s 
CI eek is now in some use, from the name oj 
a I'atent of land throU2,h which il pMees. 



GAZETTEER OF NEAV-YORK. 



15] 



\-Illage has about 20 dwelling's, and some 
few other building's. In 1780, an irrup- 
tion of Tories and Indians from Canada, 
tinder the barbarous and savage Sir .1. 
Johnson, destroyed 50 houses in this 
Town, 47 barns, with all the moveable 
property, massacred several families, 
and carried many persons into captivity. 
See JosNSTowx. Some lead ores are 
found in this Town, which are very rich 
but not wrought. J.M. 

Caxton, a Post-Township of St. Law- 
rence County, bounded N. W. by Lisbon, 
N.E. by Potsdam, S. E. by Russell, S. W. 
by DeKalb. The centre of this Town is 
about 15 miles E. of Ogdensbjtr^h, 200 
N. W. of Albany, and it has a Post-Of- 
lice, 598 miles from Washington. Can- 
ton, as marked on De Witt's Maps, was 
surveyed in 1799, first settled in 1800, 
and organized in 1805. It now contains 
699 souls, and har. 113 senatorial elec- 
tors. The surface of this Town is either 
quite level, or but moderately uneven ; 
the soil equals any Town in the County, 
principally a chocolate coloured loam, 
strong and durable. The Grass river, 
enters near the S. W. corner of Canton, 
and, meandering centrally through it, 
leaves it near the N. E. corner. The 
Oswcga.tchie river, runs a short distance 
in til is Town, and here is the cascade 
called Canton Falls. The Grass ri- 
ver is navigable for boats of 6 or 8 tons 
to the High Falls in Canton, about 50 
miles from its mouth in the St. Law- 
rence. There are some smaller streams, 
on which are erected mills. Iron-ore, 
and some plumbago, ai-e found. The 
rocks are mostly a calcareous granite, 
nnd lime is burnt from some of them. 
A kind of steatite or hard soap-stone, is 
i'ound in this and several of the adjacent 
Towns, winch endures a high heat \\ ith 
little alteration, and will prove very use- 
ful. The Natitual Caxal, connecting 
the waters of the Oswcg-atchie and Grass 
rivers, in this Town, is a curiosity of 
some importance. This canal is 6 miles 
long, from 5 to 10, and even 25 rods 
wide, has about 3 feet descent from the 
Grass river, is very straiglit, and navi- 
i;-able at high Vv'ater for boats of ten tons, 
r'orrespondents say that for 100 dollars 
it might be made so at all times. At 
](i\\^-water, a sand-bar at the entrance, is 
quite dry. A.L. 

Candoji, a Township of Tioga County, 
10 miles E. of Spencer Village, erected 
in 1811 from the S. E. part of Spencer ; 
5'ounded X. by Caroline, E. by Uroome 
t'yunty, S. by Owego, W by Spcnccv and | 



a small part of Danby. It comprises 
Township No. 12, on be Witt's Maps, 
and the S.end of No. 11, being about 5 
miles wide E. and W., by a medial length 
of 9 miles. Its population is small but 
not exactly known, liaving been organ- 
ised since the last Census ; and the con- 
jectures of my Coi'respondents are too 
variant for authorities. This Township 
is well watered by the Catetant and 
Owego creeks, with one or two others, 
and has abundance of mill-seats. The 
soil is productive, and there are several 
grain and saw -mills ei'ected, roads are 
opened, and improvements are advanc- 
ing rapidly. A turnpike road from the 
Village of Owego, in Bi'oonie County, to 
Ithaca, in Seneca Count}', leads centrally 
tiirough this Town, from the S. E. cor- 
ner, which is within a half mile of Owe- 
go Village. N.T. 

CAXK.4.m!A, a Township of Allegany 
County ; bounded N. by Nunda, E. by 
A)igclica, S. on the state of Pennsylva- 
nia, W. by Cataraugus County. It com- 
prises 10 Townships, in the 1st and 2(1 
Ranges of Townships, of the Holland 
Company Purchase ; being from Town- 
ship No. 1, to 5 inclusive, in the 1st and 
2d Ranges, commencing at the S. W. 
corner thereof. Nos. 4 and 5, in tlie 1st 
Range, have the Genesee river running* 
across some part of them, and the re- 
maining Towns are either watered by its 
branches, or by those of the Allegany 
river, which rise here. The settlements 
on this tract are of recent date ; the 
population amounted to 515, in 1810. — 
The land is represented to be of a good 
quality, and peculiarly excellent for pas- 
turage. Mills are erected and roads arc 
opening with astonishing rapidity. A 
laudable zeal of enterprize has carried 
the Merino to this country, and the 
farmers are very emulous for the best 
breeds of domestic stock. The centre 
of this Town is about 10 miles S. W. of 
Angelica, the capital of the Countv, 
which is 285 miles nearly W. from Al- 
bany. JI.W. 

CA?«-ANnAiGu.v,* a Post-Township, the 
capital of Ontario County, 20S miles W. 
of Albany, on the great road to Niag.-,- 
ra ; bounded N. by Farmington, E. by 

* This luord is of In(Uffci\al origin, Ca- 
nandaigivay, being a Torjji set off, in the 
dialect of the iScnecn Indians. I/vfe tvaii 
a Seneca Toiun, built by a pari of that 
tribe, ivho removed from Canadesaga, or 
J\'er.'-To-,V!if vhcre (Jcncva ?irii> .slands. 



152 



GAZETTEER OF NEWYORK. 



Gorham, S. by Middlesex and Bristol, 
W. by Bristol and Bloomfield. Its ex- 
tent N. and S. is 12 miles, E. and W. 6 ; 
comprising^ Townships No. 9 and 10, in 
the 3d liange. About 8 miles of the N. 
part of Canandaigua Lake, is in this 
Town, near the N. end of which is the 
Village of the same name. The outlet 
of this Lake runs a short distance 
through this town, and passes across a 
corner of Gorham into Farmington, then 
winds across Phelps and Junius, to Se- 
r.eca river, after a course of about 45 
miles, dignified with the name of Canan- 
daigua river. The soil of this Township 
is good, and well cultivated. In 1810, 
it had 415 families, 206 senatorial elec- 
tors, and a population of 2392 inluibit- 
ants. The household manufactures of 
that year produced 27,535 yards of 
clotli. In 1790, this tract contained but 
one family, in a wretched hovel, where 
now is so much of the ease of opulence, 
and of the bustle of busy life. 

Caxandaigua Village, is finely situ- 
ated in the E. part of this Town, near 
the outlet of Canandalgua Lake, and on 
a gentle ascent from the Lake, of wiiich 
it commands a fine view, at the distance 
of half a milr. There are 137 houses 
and stores, the Count}' buildings, an ar- 
senal belonging to the state, and a large 
3 stoi-y Academy, besides many other 
buildings, with several very elegant pri- 
vate mansions. The principal street is 
nearly 2 miles in length, in which are al- 
most all the above buildings. The 
Court-House, and a fire-proof office for 
the Clerk of the Court, are finely si- 
tuated on an open square, in the cen- 
tre of the Village. There are 2 week- 
ly Gazettes issued here, and tiie Vil- 
lai<-e is well supplied with Mechanics 
and Artisans. The Academy was found- 
ed by the liberyl donations of Messrs. 
Govh:.m and Plicljis, and is now very 
floiivishing. Canandaigua has a gi-eat 
amount of business, and promises to be- 
come the Metropolis of tlie Western 
Counties. It is situated in N. Lat. 42" 
48' 41 ", and 3" 20' W. Longitude from 
Kcw-York : Distant from Albany 208 
miles, iVom Utica 111, from Buffalo 88, 
"Niagara Fails 108, Sodus Bay, of L. 
Ontario 35, from Vliiladelphia 300, and 
from Washington City, 395 miles. 

J.C.S.,S.B.,8cS.G. 

Casisteo, a large Post-Township of 
Steuben Counlj', with another Post-Of- 
fice ealled Ark-Pori ; situated 20 miles 
S. W. of ISath, and about 265 miles a lit- 
tle S. of W, from Albany; bounded N. 



by Dansville, E. by Bath and Addison, S. 
by Troupsburgh. It is 19 miles long 
N. and S., by 14 wide, and the area i:* 
266 square miles. The Cani.steo creek, 
rising just on the N. of Canisteo, enters 
at the N. W. comer, and courses S. and E. 
centrally across this Town into Addisor. 
It has also some small branches that sup- 
ply mill-sites, and the Canisteo is boata- 
ble to Ark-Port, from the Tioga in the 
To^vn of Painted-Post. The lands are of 
various qualities, and the surface is, in 
general, very uneven ; though the flats 
are extensive along the creeks, and very 
productive. The settlements are of a 
recent dr.te, and still retain their first 
local names. At Hornell's settlement, 
on the Canisteo, are still to be seen tlie 
stumps of trees, noticed page 104. Here 
is a ferry, a road of pretty extensive 
travel, and the Canisteo Post-Office.— 
Ark-Port, has its name from the arks or 
boats built there, to descend the rivers 
connected with the Canisteo. Here is a 
Village of 20 houses and stores, plea- 
santly situated in the E. part of this 
Township, a Post-Office, and considera- 
ble fmde. It is 45 miles above Painted- 
Post, 25 miles S. W. of Bath, and 40 
miles S. of Avon, in Ontario County. — 
Boats descend the Canisteo with 1000 
bushels of Axheat, though that stream is 
very narrow for boatable water, and in 
many places little more than 4 rods 
wide. The whole number ol" families 
in this town may be 200, and tlie popu- 
lation is 656. Lime is obtained readily 
from stone, and from a calcareous marlc. 
There are some ores of iron, and fine 
quarries of building stone. A turnpike 
tiom Bath to Angelica, leads W. across 
this Town. C.ll. 

Carmkl, a small Township in the S 
part of Dutchess Ccmnty, 11 miles E. of 
West-Point, 26 S. E. of Poughkeepsk ; 
bounded N. by Frederick, and a small 
part of Franklin, E. by South-E;ist, S. 
by Westchester County, W. by Philips. 
The surface of this Town is much bro- 
ken by the hills of the S. eastern border 
of the Highlands, and its arable lands, 
though productive, are very stonj-, and 
better adapted for pasturage than tillage 
lands. It contains several natural ponds, 
the largest of which is Mahopack, in 
the S. W. part of the Town, where are 
some smaller ones also, that furnish the 
sources of PeekskiU creek, which enters 
the Hudson in Corllimdt, Westchester 
County. The west branch of Croton 
creek runs southerly across the E. part 
of this Town, supplying many mill-scuts, 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



153 



and receiving also the waters of some 
other small ponds. There arc 5 grain- 
mills, some saw-mills, a f'ldling-mill, 3 
carding-machines, 2 bloomerles for mak- 
ing bar-iron, and a distillery of I'ruit 
and grain-spirits. A meeting-house 
for Presbyterians, and 1 for Baptists ; 
andapretty competent number of scliool- 
houses. The inhabitants manufacture 
much of their clothing in the household 
way, and there are 95 looms in families. 
The sheep amount to 2,782, cattle 2,472, 
horses 559. The population in 1810, 
2020, when there were 153 senatorial 
electors, and the taxable property was 
valued at 209,304 dollars, on the Super- 
visors' books. N.T. 

Cahlisie, a Post-Township of Scho- 
harie County, 8 miles W. of Schoharie, 
and 40 miles W. of Albany; bounded 
N. by Canajoliarie and Charleston, in 
Montgomery county, E. by Schoharie, 
S. by CobelskiU, W.' by Sharon. It was 
erected in 1807, from part of Cobelskill 
and Sharon, and is about 8 miles long E. 
and W., and near 7 miles wide. The 1st 
Great Western Turnpike runs centrally 
through it E. and West. The land is of 
a good quality, and produces good crojis 
of grain and gi'ass. Tlicrc is 1 meet- 
ing-house, lately erected, • ©n the turn- 
pike, and school-houses are convenient- 
ly disposed in every pai't. Lime-stone 
is plenty, and there are several small 
caverns that form natural repositories 
for ice, where it is preserved through 
the summer. 'I'he timber is white pine, 
with maple, beech, hemlock,&c. The pine 
is very valuable. There are about 150 
families, and 22 house-hold looms, 
which produced 10,000 yards of cloth in 
1810, when the pojjulation was 1231, 
with 83 senatorial electors. 

X.T., E.C., & M.P. 

CAnoLiJiE, a township in the N.E. cor- 
ner of I'ioga County, bounded N. by Cayu- 
ga Co., E. by Broome County, S. by Can- 
dor, W. by Dan by. It was erected in 181 1, 
from the N. E. part of Spencer, and its 
population is not known, having been or- 
ganized since the taking of the last Cen- 
sus. It is well watered by the Owego, 
and other small waters of the Susque- 
hanna, and by some small ones that run 
N. into Cayuga Lake. Tlie land is of a 
good quality. The settlements of this 
country.principallyof a very recent date, 
arc still distinguished by local names. 
Caroline includes the most of Township 
No. 11, and CaiUiiie's Seltlemejit, is acom- 
mon designation for the settlements in 
tiiis and^ No. 10, on tlic W-, now the 



township of Danby. But that called Can- 
tine's Mills, on 6 Mile creek, also called 
Speedsvllle, where is a Post-Oftice, cal- 
led Speedsville, is cither in this Town 
or Danby, and I know not which. Tl>e 
centre of Caroline is 12 miles N. E. of 
Spencer Village or Drake's Ville. N.T. 

Castletowjs^, a Township on the N. 
end of Staten Island, in the County of 
Richmond ; bounded north by the Kills, 
or the water between Staten Island and 
Bergen Point in New-Jersey, E. and 
southerly by the bay of New-York and 
the townof Southfield, W. by Northfield. 
The surface is much broken and hilly, 
tliough it sustains a considerable popu- 
lation, and has much arable land, very 
productive. The population in 1810, 
agreeable to the Census, 1301 ; and there 
are 121 senatorial electors. There ai-e 
3 houses for public worship, and some 
school-houses. The Quarantine ground 
is here, witii its appendant accommoda- 
tions ; and the Marine Hospital liere 
may acconmiudate from 2 to 300 sick. 
These buildings form a part of the 
Quarantine and Health establishments 
of the city of New-York, from whicli they 
are distant 9 miles. The Clove Hills are 
in this town, as are those on which the 
British erected fortifications during the 
Revolutionary war ; — the watering place 
for vessels, also, which is now within 
the Quarantine ground. There are se- 
veral Ferries to New-York, and a consi- 
derable trade in vegetables, fish, &c , 
which employs a large proportion of the 
inhabitants. J. P. 

Catskill, a Post-Township, the capi- 
tal of Greene County, on the W. bank of 
the Hudson, 33 miles below Albany, and 
5 S. W. of Hudson : bounded northerly 
by Cairo and Coxackie, E. by tiie Hud- 
son, S. by Ulster County, AV. by Wind- 
ham, or the summit ol' the Catsbergs or 
Catskill mountains. Its extent on the 
river is 12 1-2 miles, and the area may be, 
65 square miles; containing 2 Post-Offi- 
ces — one at Catskill Village, the oth- 
er at the Village of Athens, opposite 
Hudson. The surface and soil embrace 
a very great diversity. On the W. are 
the Catsbergs, of a lofty mountain cha- 
racter, described page 9; — bordered by 
many hills of no inferior magnitude ; 
and the Intervening plain that extends 
toward the Hudson, has strong features 
of broken surface, especially in the south- 
ern part, while the northern has much 
of a high level plain of sand and clay. 
And to complete tlie features of a broad 
livcrsity the Catskill crcek runs S. E 



154 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



across it to the Hudson, receiving se- 
veral branches from tlie N., and Kaaters 
kill, or He-Cats' ereek, a fine mill-stream 
from the S., coming from the Catsbergs 
or the Catskill mountains, and winding 
centrally N. eastward across the south- 
ern part. Along these streams are fine 
tracts of rich alluvion, particularly the 
principal stream, with abundance of mill- 
seats in every part of tlip Town. The 
river-hills of the Hudson ac^mit of culti- 
vation, and in the N. part slope gently 
toward the river, composed of clay and 
sand, with occasional ledges of a hard 
fractured rock that quarries pretty well 
and answers a good purpose for building. 
Here, too, is the licad of ship naviga- 
tion, and a bold shore. See GntENE 
County, and Atuexs ; and besides these, 
populous and flourishing villages, there 
are two others, which, though compara- 
tively small, demand notice. Jefferson 
Village, is situated on the Susquehanna 
turnpike that leads through Cairo, one 
mile from Catskill, on a handsome flat, 
and contains 20 houses, some stores, &c. ; 
and three miles further W. is the Village 
of Madison, near Catskill creek, where 
are about 24 houses, a valuable grain- 
mill with 4 running stones, a distillery, 
some stores, &.c. The turnpikes are nu- 
merous and extensive, connecting the 
above trading towns witli the interior 
country. This Tov/nship had partial 
settlements at an eurly period of our 
history, by a few of tlie German Pala- 
tines near West-Camp, which is in the 
N. of Uster County, though just on the 
line, and by DutcJi families along the 
river at Athens, formerly culled Loonen- 
berg, and at Cattkill. l"he population 
amounts to 4245, of which number are 
150 slaves ; and the senatorial electors 
are 359. The tux:'.ble property as assess- 
ed in 1810, amouiUed to 637,275 dollars, 
and the property, v/ith the population, 
seem likely to' increase very rapidly. 
For the shipping and trade, see the Vil- 
lages. Of the manufactories in this 
Town I have no account ; but it has a 
paper-mill on an extensive scale, a^ also 
some distilleries, rope-woiks and ship- 
yards. J.P., S.H. & R.D. 
Cato, a Township of Cayuga County, 
14 to 34 miles N. oW'hiburn, comprising 
the Township named Cato, on De Witt's 
Mapsj and that part of Sterling which 
lies in the County of Cayuga ; bouiid- 
ed northerly by Lake Onia.io, E. by On- 
ondaga County, S. by Meuiz, W. by Se- 
neca County. The S. E. corner is in 
Ci'otis lake, and there arc one or two oth- 



er small lakes, with many very small 
streams that run either into Lake On- 
tario, or S. into Seneca river, or that 
stream formed from the Lakes Canan- 
daigua, Seneca, Cayuga and others, by 
whatever name it be known. The soil, 
in general, is fertile, and the surface 
quite level, except in the W. part, which 
is somewhat hilly, but is mostly arable 
land, and produces good crops of grain 
and grass : It is, however, but indifl^er- 
ently supplied with water. The first 
settlements were made about 1801-2. 
There is one Presbyterian and one Bap- 
tist meeting-house, and 5 or 6 school- 
houses. The roads are yet new, and but 
little used. The whole population in 
1810, was 1075 persons, when there were 
191 families, and 56 senatorial electors. 
The taxable property was assessed at 
97,513 dollars. N.T. & R P. 

CATHARiyEs, a large Post-Township in 
the N. W. corner of Tioga county, 18 
miles N. W. of Spencer Village, and 
about 200 miles from Albany ; bounded 
N. by Steuben and Seneca Counties, E. 
by Cayuta and a part of Chemung, S. by 
Elmira, W. by Steuben County. It com- 
prises Townsliips No. 2 and 3, of Wat- 
kins and Flint's purchase, and the N. 
half of 1 and 4 : and is aljout 12 miles 
square. It is watered by several small 
streams that rise in this Township, as 
the inlet of Seneca Lake, Newtown or 
Elmira creek, and some others that run 
S. to the Husqoehanna, besides Catetant 
on a small part of the N. E. corner. — 
There is a large hemlock swamp in the 
S. part, and a marshy tract toward the N.; 
but these are bordered l^y fine ridges of 
arable lands, timbered with oak, or oak 
iind pine. On the other lands are maple, 
beech, bass-wood, elm, &.c. Liine-stone 
is plenty, and iron-ore is found of a good 
quality ; as also a pigment, from which a 
good brown paint resembling the Span- 
ish brown of commerce is prepared, and 
with little labor. It has been proved 
here, and is durable. This pigment is 
found in abundance, washed in water to 
separate the dust from stony lumps, then 
made into blocks of a convenient size, 
dried, and btnnt like bricks, when it is 
fit for use, being pulverised and prepar- 
ed with oil. There are in this Town- 
ship 4 or 5 grain-mills, 7 saw-mills, a 
I'liiiing'-mill and some other works of this 
kind. The population in 1810, was 836, 
when thei'c were 40 senatorial electors. 
The settlements, comparatively new, 
are distinguished by local names. John- 
son's sctliemtnt is on the E. part, as is 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



iri5 



the Dutch settlement, the last of which 
is on Cavuta creek ; and there is another 
called Malary's settlement. There are 
turnpikes at a short distance on the N. 
and S. of Catharines, and one centrally 
through it N. and S., from Newtown or 
Elmira village to tlie head of Seneca 
Lake, where it intersects the one to Bath 
from Ithaca. J. & M. 

Cayuta, a large Township of Tioga 
County, 10 miles N. W. of Spencer Vil- 
lage, erected in 1811 from tlie N.W. part 
of Spencer ; bounded N. by Seneca Coun- 
ty, E. by Dunby,' S. by Spencer, W. by 
Catharines. It comprises Townships 
No. 6 and 7, in Watkins and Fiinl's pur- 
cliase, except a small part at the S. end ; 
ajid is about 12 miles long E. and W. by 
8 miles wide- The main, inlet, as it is 
called, of Cayuga Lake, rises near the 
centre, running N. ; and Cayuta creek, 
of the Susquehanna, waters the western 
part, as does the Catetant the S. East- 
ern. This country has been partially 
settled about 14 years, but is still com- 
paratively wild. The first settlements 
still retain their local designations, and 
Gray's settlement, or New-Canaan, is the 
principal one in this Town. Lime-stone 
is plenty, of a good quality ; and my Cor- 
respondents write tliat excellent lime is 
made by burning a kind of soft sliell- 
marle which is found in a marsh. Of the 
population, I have no exact account, and 
conjectures form no part of my plan. — 
At the time of the last Census, 1810, 
Cayuta, Candor, Caroline, Danby and 
Spencer, constituted the Township of 
Spencer, the population of which was 
ol28, and the whole number of senato- 
rial electors 188. See the above named 
Towns. N. T. 

CAZE>.-OTrA, a Post-Township, the 
capital of Madison County, 494 miles 
from Washington : bounded N. by Sulli- 
van, E. by Smithfield and Nelson, S. by 
Deliuyter, Vv'. by Onondaga County. Its 
present extent is 12 miles N. and S., by 
ubout 5 E. and W. But when first erect- 
ed in 1795, then in Herkimer Co., it com- 
prised an area nearly equal to that of the 
whole County of Madison. It is water- 
ed by the Chitteningo and Lime-stone 
creeks ; and near the centre of the Town 
there is a lake of 4 1-2 miles long N. and 
S., and from 1-2 to 1 mile wide. This is 
called by the Indians Uuwhaghinali, and 
sometimes by the English Canaseraga — 
but it is more properly called Linklaen 
lake, by general consent. This Town is 
situated on elevated ground, but the sur- 
face is ratlicr level lliun hillv. The soil 



is a rich loam, underlaid by strata of 
gravel or clay, abounding with lime- 
stone. The soil may be denominated a 
good medium for grain or grass. The 
turnpike from Cherry -Valley to Manlius, 
runs centrally E. and W., and good coun- 
try roads intersect it in every direction. 
The whole population, 3151 ; 513 heads 
of families, and 172 senatorial electors. 
Taxable property, 164,176 dolls. There 
are 5 grain-mills, 10 saw-mills, 2clothie- 
ries, 2 carding machines, 2 trip-ham- 
mers, a brewer}', distillery, 2 asheries, 
and 2 tanneries. There is a Presbyteri- 
an, and a Baptist meeting-house, and 12 
or 14 school-houses. This Town waa 
first settled in May, 1793, by Col. John 
Linklaen, from Amsterdam, agent for a 
company in Holland. Their lands in this 
and the adjoining Towns, were sold in 
farms to actual settlers, principally from 
New-England. And as this agent gives 
an honorable character to the inhabit- 
ants, and those to the agent, I preserve 
both with much pleasure, as honorable 
evidences and testimonies of private 
worth. 

Cazenotia Village, in the Town of 
Cazenovia, the seat of justice for JNIadi- 
son County, is pleasantly situated at the 
's. end of Linklaen lake, near the centre 
of this Town. The situation is very eli- 
gible for w'ater works of every descrip- 
tion. The great western turnpike from 
Albany to Manlius, leads tlirough this 
Village, and many country roads centre 
there. In 1810, the site for the County 
buildings, was fixed in this village by 
Commissioners appointed Jbr that pur- 
pose. Col. Linklaen settled at this spot 
in May, 1793 ; and the village now con- 
tains, 1810, 500 inhabitants, 69 housesj 
5 stores, a grain and saw-mill^ 2 clothie- 
ries, 2 cai-ding machines, 2 trip-ham- 
mers, a brewer)-, distillery, 2 pot-ashe- 
ries, 2 tanneries, a post-office, and a hand- 
some Presbyterian mecting-housc. This 
Village was incorporated in 1810. It 
lies about 20 miles N. of W. from Alba- 
ny, distant 130 miles on the post-route 
by Utica. P.G.C., J.L., & A.P.L. 

CuAJinojf, a Post-Township, of Jcf^ 
ferson County, 561 miles from Wash- 
ington City, 161 miles north west of 
Albany, and 52, about N. from Rome ; 
bounded N. and E. by Black river, S. E. 
by Lewis Co., W. by Rutland. Its form 
is irregular, and the area may be abou', 
28,000 acres. The soil is a rich loam, 
with a small admixture of black sand, 
and forms a first rate medium soil, for 
the cultivation of cither grass or graiR. 



156 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



The surface is generally level, with some 
gentle undulations, and scarcely an acre 
of waste ground. The timber, princi- 
pally maple, beech, elm, and ash, 
with some butternut, and bass-wood. 
Tlic settlement commenced in 1797, 
and it now contains, 1810, 210 fami- 
lies, 194 sen. electors, and 1471 in- 
liabitants. Tliere are 53 framed, 157 
log-houses, 79 framed barns, 3 stores, 2 
distilleries, 9 school-houses, 1 cloth- 
ier's works, a carding machine, 4 grist- 
mills, 8 saw-mills, and a brewery. The 
inhabitants, principally from the Eastern 
States, are good farmers, and own the 
.soil on which they live. Wheat and 
other grain, succeed well, and many 
larmers have large stocks of cattle. — 
Nothing invidious is intended in saying 
the inhabitants arc Very industrious and 
thriving, for the remark .applies to tliose 
also of the adjacent Towns. And in no 
coimtry so recently settled, have I ever 
.•seen such n spirit of improvement, or 
more of sober and pcrscverhig industry, 
xvith so good roads, the veins and arte- 
ries of public and private prosperity. — 
Jn the S. part, is a small pond, of 1 1-2 
mile by 1-2 mile, clear and transparent, 
from which a small stream runs into 
Jllack river, at the head of the Long Falls, 
in this Town. At the bottom of this 
pond, is found a while earth, resembling 
Whiting, or Spanish White, from which 
j2;ood putty is made. In 1801, Champi- 
on, then in Oneida Co., contained but 1 
senatorial, and 75 assembly electors ; — 
in 1808, 138 sen. and 40 assembly elec- 
tors. Tiiere is a small Village on the bank 
<»f Ulack river, at the head of the Long 
Tails, where is the Post-OHice. 

S.H. 
Chatham, a Post-Township of Colum- 
bia County, 18 miles N. E. of Jtadson, 
and v?l S. E. of Albany ; bounded N. I^y 
Ivpusselaer ''-ounty, E. b}- Canaan, S. by 
Hillsdale and Claver;ick, W. by Kinder- 
hook. Its extent X. and S. is 11 miles, 
E. and W. from 4 1-2 to 6 1-2 miles. It 
is a good Township of farming land, 
and pj'esents a very great diversity of 
soil. Ledges of shistic or slaty rocks 
traverse it N. and S., and foim hills of a 
moderate height, mostly arable, or fit 
for pasture lands ; and between these 
are fine vales of a warm and productive 
shistic gry.vel, or gravelly Icam, with 
many tracts of allu\ial lands along the 
creeks, which are pretty numerous. In 
the E., along the W. border of Canaan, 
is a range of hilly land, of a sti-ong 
loamy sod, and very stony, v.liilc the 



low lands are almost destitute of stone, 
except in the ledges. Lebanon creek, a 
fine mill-stream, enters hi the X. E. 
corner, and crosses the AV. line near tlie 
N. and S. centre, after having received 
Canaan creek from the E., and one or 
two other brandies. Kline-Kill, cr little 
creek, rises in Hillsdale, and runs across 
the S. end of Chath.am, and along the 
W. line towai'd Lebanon creek, which it 
enters just within Kinderhook. These 
streams, with many smaller ones, sup. 
ply abundance of mill-seats. There 
are, in this Town, 12 grain-mills, 8 saw- 
mills, 4 fulling-mills, 2 or 3 plaster or 
gypsum-mills, and 3 carding-machines. 
The houses for public worship, are, 1 for 
Presbyterians, 1 for Quakers, and 1 for 
Baptists or Methodists. Chatham was 
erected in 1795, from Canaan and Kin- 
derhook. See Canaan, for a verj' minute 
description, and detailed observations 
on the climate, &c. The whole popula- 
tion of tliis Town in 1810, was 3,381, 
including 80 slaves ; and there were* o73> 
senatorial electors. The inhabitants 
are principally, farmers, of plain m.an- 
ners and frugal habits, well adapted for 
their occupations. The household wheel 
and loom, aided by the carding-ma- 
chines, supply the most of the common, 
and much of the f.ner clothing, and the 
state of agriculture is rery respectable. 
There are 138 looms in families, which 
make yearly about 73,000 yards of cloth. 
Gypsum is much used as a manure, and 
with great success. The roads are ra- 
ther too numerous to be good, thoug-li 
improving very fast sisce the introduc- 
tion of turnpikes, of which there are 3 
or more in this Town. The Post-Office 
is but recently esta1)lished, on the turn- 
pike from Albany to Stockbridge, in INIas- 
sachusetts, about 15 miles from Albany. 
The N. E. part of this town has tlie 
local name of jVe\c -Britain, where is a 
society of Quakers, with a house of wor- 
ship; J\'erj-Concov(l, on tlie E line, is al- 
so a local name for a small district, 
where is the Presb3tcrian meeting- 
house, and a small but pleasant Village. 
And tlieie is a busy little village, called 
the Federal Store, on the turniVike from 
Albany toward Hartford, in Connecticut, 
18 miles from Albany. Vloshci's mills 
in the N. are very valualile, erected on 
Lebanon creel-j and here also is a small 
Village, with considerable meclianical 
.ind other business. The X. E. part m 
broken and hilly, and the S. and W. is 
very level, with extensive tracts of clay, 
or argillaceous mold. This part is 



GAZETTEER OP NEW-YORK. 



Visually called Kline-kill, from the name 
t/f the creek that flows through it. 

T.H. G.G. aS.C. 
Chaklton', a Post-To v/nship in the S. 
W. corner of Saratog-a Count}', 25 miles 
about N. W. from Albany, and about 8 
S. W. of Ballston-Spa ; bounded N. by 
Gal way and k small part of Milton, E. 
by Ballslon, S. by the City and County 
of Scheuectady, and W. a small ansfie 
extends to Montgomery County. Tiie 
surface is but gently undulated, and it 
may be called an even tract, convenient- 
ly interspersed with moderate swells 
and pleasant val6s. There is a g-entle 
<lescent toward the Mohawk on the S., 
and the N. part has a g-enerai altitude of 
100 leet hij^her than the south. Tiie 2 
branches of Aelpiaats, or Ecl-Place- 
Creek,* run southerly across the Town 
and supply some mills. Of these, there 
are 4 or 5 graiu-mills, 7 saw-mills, 
a fulling-mill, and a carding-machine. 
About 1000 acres of the land is held by 
durable leases, the rest by right of soil. 
The soil is a sandy loam, in the S. part ; 
in the N. a clay, or argillaceous loam. — 
There are 3 houses for public worship ; 
1 of which is for Presbyterians, 1 for ; 
Episcopalians, and 1 for Seceders, but I 
Jcnow not from what sect ; and 8 com- 
mon school-houses, well supported. — 
Principally farmers, tlie inhabitants are 
represented as moral, sober and indus- 
trious, by my Correspondents, and the 
society good. A laudable attention is pre- 
vailing to improvements in agriculture, 
and in tlie breeds of domestic stock ; as 
well as to domestic or household manu- 
I'actures. 

A pleasant little Village of the same 
name, gives life and animation as well to 
the appearance of the Town, as to its 
business. Charlton was erected in 1792, 
and its Post-Officc established in 1802. 

C.B. 
Champiaix, a Post-ToWnship in the 
N. E. corner of Clinton County, 15 miles 
N. of Plattsbuv^-h, and 185 from Albany ; 
bounded N. by Latitude 45*, or the 
Province of Canada, E. by Lake Cham- 
plain, or the state of Vermont^ W. by 
Moocrs. The great Chazy, a fine stream 
of Lake Champ lain waters this Town, 

* A;; it is said to be in EngTish ; but 
it is also written Aalplaats, and several 
other wat/s, and I can find no peraua that 
can correct the orthoo^raphij ; nor any au- 
thoriii/ but va^tie tradition, for supposing 
it means any thiiip-, but to ntuhc a hard, 
ouk.uard r.-ord- 



and it has a great plenty of mill-seats. 
At a short bend of the Chazy, where it 
turns S. E. toward the Lake, stands the 
Yillage of Champlain, about 3 miles 
from Canada line, and 6 \V. of tjie W. 
siiore of Lake Champlain. Here is a 
Post-Office, and a handsome collection 
of houses, with some mills, Sec. &c. — 
The land along the Lake, shore is level, 
and consists principally of a strong loani 
or clay, under tolerable cultivation. — 
The whole population of this Town in 
1510, was 1210 persons, when there 
were 92 senatorial electors. The in- 
h.abitants are mostly farmers. As might 
be supposed, in the Latitude of 45", the 
climate is cold, and the winters long 
«.nd severe ; but there is usually 1 to 2, 
:md even 3 or 4 feet of snow, which co- 
vers the earth for 5 months, and some- 
times 6 in succession. Apples, peal's, and 
plums of several kinds, flourish here, 
and good meadows yield from 1 to 2 
tons of iiay on an average. The princi- 
pal trade is with Canada, by the river 
Sorel, and in winter by sleighs, which 
pass to Montreal in 2 days. ' See Pei-u 
and Piattsburgh. Nor can the people 
of this country be persuaded that A'lbanv 
is a better market ; — or tliat political 
restraints on a trade so clearly indicat- 
ed by circumstances of a permanent na- 
ture, can make it treasonable, or in any 
way criminal, to continue it on the foot- 
uig of a reciprocity of private interests. 
N. T., C. N. 
Chahlestok, a large Post-Township in 
the S. E. part of Montgomery County, 
on the S. side of the Mohawk, 40 miles 
N. of W. from Albany, 10 S. of Johns- 
town ; bounded N. by Johnstown, or the 
Mohawk river ; E. by Florida, or the 
Schoharie creek ; S. by Schoharie Coun- 
ty, AV. by Canajoharie. The area is 
about 100 square miles. The surface is 
but moderately broken, though some- 
what hilly, while these admil^ of culti- 
vation almost without exception. There 
are many ledges of rocks, especially in 
the river-hills, but they quarry pretty 
well, and arc useful in building. The; 
soil partakes of a considerable variet}', 
but is principally a clay, or loam, witjt 
some tracts of sand and gravel. Tlie 
Aries-kill, a small mill-stream, spreads 
over the central part, and the Schoharie 

creek affords line sites for mills. > 

Charleston has 1 turnpike across the 
centre E. :uid W., and numerous com- 
mon roads. Its products are those com-. 
mon to this country, and the Township 
has a large amount »f nropertv. Ths 
til 



156 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



ancient residence of the ISIoliawk In- 
dians was on botli sides, at tlie Jiiouth of 
Schoharie creek, in this Town and Flori- 
da ; and tliere arc still remainin.^ son>e 
of their orchards of a])ple-trees. This 
Towiishij) was first settled by some 
Dutch families aloiig the ISlohawk, prior 
to the Revolution, and this part is still 
H^rincipally owned by their descendants.; 
while the southern part has many in- 
habitants from the eastern states. 

About fout fifths of the land is held in 
fee ; the rest by lease for lives. The 
domestic manufactures are improving', 
with its agriculture- There are 2 
Pi'esbyterian or Dutch Reformed church- 
es, 1 for Baptists, and 1 for Methodists, 
and 30 school-houses. Tliefe are 7 
grain-mills, 2 carding-machincs, 2 full- 
ing-mills, a nail-factory, and a distillery 
of grain spirits. Wheat is the staj)le 
commodity. The population is 5,282 ; 
the senatorial electors 660 ; and the 
•whole amount of property assessed in 
1810, 660,513 dollars, as estimated by 
the supervisors. 

S.H. 
CiiATEAtTGAY, a Post-Townshi):) on the 
l3. line of Franklin County, 10 miles E. 
of Malone, 32 miles W. of Plattsburgh 
on L. Champlain, and 210 N. of Albany ; 
hounded N. by Canada, E. by Clinton 
County, S. by Essex County, W. by Ez- 
raville and Constable. It is about 30 
miles in length, N. and S., and 10 miles 
wide ; comprising ti;e Townships or 
great lots, mimbered 7, 8, 9 and 10, of 
the old military tract. Savanack river, or 
creek, runs across the S. E. corner^ and 
the central part sends some small waters 
into St. Regis and Salmon creeks, of the 
St. Lawrence, and also furnishes the 
head of Cha/.y, of L. Champlain. The 
northern part is watered by Chatcaugay 
river, which runs N. into Canada. This 
is the largest stream, and there are now 
erected upon it 2 grain-mills, 3 saw- 
mills, a fulling-mill, paper-mill and 
carding-machine. In 1810 the whole 
fiopulation was 625, with 69 senatorial 
electors. The Village of Chateaugay is 
in the N. Township, on the E. side of 
Chateaugay river, 8 miles S. of Canada 
line, and has some roads of considerable 
travel. The southern part is broken by 
the range of mountains that pervade 
this country, and the northern is more 
level. The soil of tbc arable tracts is 
principally a rich loam, timbered with 
maple, beech, ash, elm, bass-wood, in- 
termixed with pine and hemlock, and 
with some oak. There are several na- 



tural ponds, which abound with trout, 
as do the streams also. F. L. H. 

Chatauq,ua, a Post-Township, the «a- 
pital of Chatauqua 'County, 357 miles W. 
of Albany, and about 70 S. westerly from 
Buffalo, at the outlet of Lake Erie. It 
is very extensive) and comprises 1 6 Town- 
ships of land, organised into 1 Town in 
1808 ;— Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, in the 12th Range 
of Townships of the Holland Company 
Purchase ; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, in the 13th Range ; 
1, 2, 3, 4, in the 14th Range ; and 1, 2, 3^ 
in the 15th Range, being the N. W. cor- 
ner of the state of New-York : — bound- 
ed northerly by Lake Erie, or the Brit- 
ish possessions in Canada, E. by Pom- 
fret, S. and W. by the state of Pennsylva- 
nia. The land is generally of a good 
quality, moderately uneven, and abun- 
dantly well watered by numerous small 
streams that run S. to the Allegany ot* 
the Ohio, and several also that run into 
Lake Erie. Chatauqua Lake is all In this 
Town, except about 1 mile at the outlet. 
It is about 16 miles in length, and 1 to 
3 miles wide, discharging at the E. end 
into Connewongo creek. The popula- 
tion is too diffuse for minute topographi- 
cal details ; and for the general character 
of the lands, and the progress of im- 
provements, see PoMrnET. The whole 
population in 1810, was 1039, when there 
were 90 senatorial electors. The thriv- 
ing little village of Miii'viUe, at the 
iiead of Chatauqua Lake, is the seat of 
justice for the County, and it is rapidly 
increasing in population and impcovc- 
ments. tJood roads are wanting, but 
tlie country is filling up wiili emigrant 
fitmilies from the Eastward ; and witii 
Yankee enterprize and perseverance, 
great difficulties are soon overcome. 
And unless I much mistake, it cannu*; 
be long before good leading roads will 
be opened througli this country, comma- 
nicaling with New-Connecticut, in the 
N. E. corner of the State of Ohio. Frencli 
Creek, of the Allegany river, rises in tJie 
S. ^Y. corner of this Town, and runs S, 
W. into the Pennsylvania Triangle. 

N.1.,A.H. 

CiiAZr, a P0st-Township of Clinton 
County, 186 miles N. of Albany, bound- 
ed N. by Mooers and Champlain, S. by 
Plattsburgh, W. by Franklin County. — ^ 
It was erected in 1804, irom a part oi' 
Champlain, and its boundaries were al- 
tered in 1808. Its general surface is el- 
evated, and its waters are very nume- 
rous, though principally small. The 
whole population of tlus Town in 1810. 
was 1466j V hen there wera 63 senatoriai 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



w 



electors. The soil is pretty good, and 
the inhabitants are hardy, industrious 
farmers, who make the most of their 
clothing in the household way. N.T. 
Chesteh, a Post-Township of Wash- 
5 ngton County, lying W. of Scroon Lake, 
90 miles N. of Albany, erected March 
25, 1799, from Thurman. Chester is 
T)0unded N. by Scroon, in Essex Co., E. 
by Scroon Lake and river, S. by Thur- 
man, W. by Hudson river, which sepa- 
rates it from Johnsburgh, being about 
12 miles long N. and S. and 6 E. and W. 
The settlements commenced about 1788- 
9, and belonged to Queensbury till 1792, 
to Thurman till 1799. There are at 
present, 1810, 937 inhabitants, about 
160 families, and 120 senatorial electors. 
The country is mountainous, but the 
vallies are of considerable extent, fertile 
and the whole well watered. Canada 
and Oak Jfo^intains, present summits of 
great height, and the mountains and hills 
terminate in precipices on the W. side, 
while the eastern is much less steep, 
seldom precipitous, and admit of culti- 
vation without much waste ground. And 
a similar remark applies, generally, to 
tdl the mountains of this region, and to 
the extensive i-angesof the Green Moun- 
tains, in Vermont, E. of L, Champlain. 
The productions of the forest are vari- 
ous, of course, and consist of pine, spruce, 
hemlock, cedar, white and red, fir, and 
on the plains, maple, beech, birch, ash, 
elm, lime, or linden, or bass-wood, and 
red-oaks of enormous size. The soil is 
good for grass, and the varieties of grain 
adapted to the climate. Iron-ore abounds, 
though no mines are wrought. The in- 
habitants are almost wholly farmers, la- 
borious, and peacealjle of course. There 
are many small lakes or ponds. See 
ScnooTf Lake, the largest ; and Loon 
Lake, is about 2 miles long, and 1 \ great- 
rst width, discharging southward into 
Scroon river, on the outlet of which are 
some falls and mills. Friend's Lake, 
about 2 miles south of Loon L., is 1| 
mile long, and 5 mile greatest width ; 
besides which there are some small 
ponds as E. and W. Ponds. There are 
5 or 6 mills erected, and some school - 
houses. Several small religious socie- 
ties are formed, but they have, as yet, 
1)0 houses of worship. Tlie Stoxe 
Bridge,* in this Town, is a very great na- 

* This is one of those natural curiosities 
which Spanish superstition and love of (he 
piarvellous, have denominated Ponte de Di- 
es, or Brides of God. 'I'licn arc not im 



tural curiosity, and has given the name 
of Stone-Bridge creek, to a small stream 
that runs undGr it. This stream rises 
in Essex County, and enters Chester 
about 30 rods above the Bridge, and im- 
mediately falls over a rocky precipice, 
into a large natural Bason ; whence turn- 
ing easterly, enters its subterranean pas= 
sage in 2 branches. The northern branch 
enters its passage under an arch of mas- 
sy granite 40 feet high, and about 80 feet 
broad at the base, gradually diminish- 
ing in'ftapacity as you descend. A per- 
son may follow the stream with ease, 
156 feet from the entrance, where it be- 
comes so contracted as to check any far- 
ther progress. As might be expected, 
the reverberation of sound, from the dis- 
charge of a musket, is prodigious, and 
for a moment drowns every faculty in 
tlie wild echo of tumultuous sound. At 
a short distance, the southern and priur 
cipal branch enters its passage amidst 
a heap of stones and rubbish that almost 
conceal the entrance ; and though with 
difficulty, its passage lias been explored. 
In some places, very much confined, in 
othei's opens into caverns of 30 or 40 
feet diameter, and filled with water to 
a great deptii. At the distance of 
247 feet from the entrance, the waters 
disembogue in one stream, having unit- 
ed in the subterranean passage ; and here 
is a precipice of rock, 54 feet high, which 
terminates the Bridge. The arch through 
which the water discharges, is about io 
feet wide and 5 high. This stream en- 
ters Snroon river, about | mile below the 
outlet of Scroon Lake, and the Stone, 
Bridge is about 3 miles N. W. from tlie 
movith of the creek. A short distance 
below the bridge, where the stream is of 
a good size for mills, is a fall, and a bed 
of iron-ore at hand, both unimproved. 

O.INL 
CHTSTEnriEii), a Post-Township in the 
N. E. corner of Essex County, erected iii 
1802, from the N. part of Willsborough ; 
Ijounded N. by Clinton Coimty, E. by L. 
Champlain, or the State of Vermont, S. 
by Willsborough and Lewis, W. by Jay ; 
embracing about 10 miles of the lake 
shore, and it extends nearly 10 miles 
back. A mountainous tract pervades 
this Town also, tliough along the lake 
and the Sable river, the land is level, 

7tsnal in hilly or monntainous countries. 
But this is vast It/ inferior in magnitude 
and grandeur to the natural Bridge in 
Virginia, so eleganlhi described in Jeffef* 



160 



GAZETTEER OF NEAV-YORK. 



fertile, and easy of tillage ; the soil a 
Kandy loam, intermixed with clay. There 
are several small ponds, which discharge 
mill-streams, well supplied with falls. 
But the principal stream is the Sable, or 
Sandy river, which forms the northern 
bonndary, and affords very great advan- 
tages for hydraulic works ; and iron-ore 
abounds in almost every part of the 
Town. Most persons are acquainted with 
the celebrity of the Lake Champlnin ore. 

The channel of the Sable rivef, pre- 
sents a very great curiosity, and taken 
in connexion with Ad^ate^s Falls, are 
Worthy the attention of travellers. Here 
are very valuable mills, owned by Judge 
Jldgaie. The water falls in a cataract 
about 80 feet, into a narrow channel, 
with perpendicular walk on each side, 
as regular as the work of art, and near 
100 feet high. This channel, evidently 
worn by the water, continues about 1 
mile in length, and about midway there is 
a good wooden bridge thrown across it. 
At the bridge the gulph is 62 feet wide, 
and you cross it 96 feet from the water, 
which is about 30 feet deep ! In a ca- 
vern, in the S. W. part of this Town, 
the inhabitants have a good natural Ice- 
hoiise, stored by the hand of nature, and 
•which never fails to hold ice through the 
summer. There are 6 saw-mills, 1 grist- 
mill, a carding-machlne, and a clothiers' 
V'orks. The great northern turnpike 
leads through this Town, and other 
yoads arc conveniently disposed. The 
advantages for trade and navigation, are 
Sjood ; and considerable profits are deri- 
ved from the lumber trade- The land is 
held in fee, and the inhabitants may be 
called peaceable, industrious, and consi- 
derable hoiisehold manufacturers. Tlnre 
are two school-houses, and two conside- 
rable religious societies ; 1 Congrega- 
tionalist, 1 Methodist. By tlie Cevsus 
flf 1810, 631 inhabitants. The taxable 
i)ropertv, agreeable to the Supervisors' 
books, S44,4!8. A.B. 

CHr.niiT-yALi.ET, a Post-Township in 
the N. E. corner of Otsego County, 53 
miles W. of Albany, and 14 N. E. of 
Cooperstown ; bounded N. by Montgom- 
ery County, of the Town of Canajoharic, 
Fi. by Schoharie Co , S. by Decatur and 
Westford, W. by Middlefield and Spring- 
Seld. The genera! surface of this Town- 
ship is elevated ; for it supplies the 
sources of Canajoharie ci-eek of the Mo- 
hawk, and of Cherry -Valley creek, an 
extreme N. eastern water of the Unadil- 
la of the Susquclianna. These are small 
ro^U-streajns, on lyhicU are mills ; and 



there are other smaller rivulets with ma- 
ny springs. The extensive vallies have a 
rich soil of alluvion and vegetable mold, 
and their abundance of the wild cherry- 
tree, gave the name to the Township, 
— It is considerably broken by hills, 
and the hilly lands are excellent <br 
grass. The land is held in fee, with ve- 
ry few exceptions, and ths inhabitants 
are principally farmers. Household ma- 
nufactures are becoming objects of ge- 
neral attention, and the agriculture is 
respectable and improving. The taxable 
property was assessed in 1810 at 235,07B 
dollars, when the whole number of taxa- 
ble inhabitants was 380, and of senato- 
rial electors 223. The population was 
2775, and many of the inhabitants are 
possessed of a large share of wealth. — 
This country was settled about 1741-2, 
principally by the Irish, and the inhabi- 
tants sufiered much in the early wars, as 
also in that of the Revolution. This 
Town has many turnpikes and other 
roads, and enjoys every commbn facility 
of intercourse. 

E.P.,J.P,&E.C. 

CnEnnv-VALLEY Vjllagt;, where is the 
Post-Office, is beautifully situated in 
the principal vale of the above Town- 
ship, and is most romantically environ- 
ed by high hills. Here are SO housea 
and stores, a handsome meeting-house» 
and an Academy. And standing at th« 
meeting of 5 roads of great travel, has a 
very considerable amount of trade. T)ir 
1st, 2d, and 3d Great AVcstern Turn- 
pikes meet here, with other loads that 
traverse the country in every direction. 
It is 13 miles S. W. of the IVIohawk ar 
Palatine bridge, 53 miles N. of W. from 
Albnnj', and 14 miles N. E. from Otsego 
or Cooperstown Village. It has some 
elegant gentleman's seats and private 
mansions. 

N.T., S.G,,E.C.,Sc.T.P. 

CriEXANQO, a Township, the capital of' 
Broome County, with a Post-Office call- 
ed Clie7iango-roir.t, situated 148 miles 
S. of AV. irom Albany, 40 miles from 
Norwich, and 62 in a right line S. of 
Manlhis, in Onondaga County; bounded 
N. by Lisle and a part of Chenango Co., 
E. by Windsor, S. by the State of Penn- 
sylvania, W. by Union. Its extent N. 
and S., 17 miles, E. and W., nearly 11, 
with an area of 178 square miles. This 
Town has the Susquehanna river, a 
course of near 18 miles ; — entering at the 
S. E. corner, it curves N. and W. to 
about the centre of the W. line, where it 
enters UnioJt. The Chenango I'vcr en- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



161 



■ters this Town near the centre of the N. 
line, and niiis S. and W. to the Susqiie- 
fianna at Chenango-Point. Besides these, 
large boatable streams, there are some 
smaller ones on which arc mill-seats. — 
In 1810, there were 4 saw-milis and 4 
grain-mills in tiiis Town ; ai-.d the whole 
population was 1420, with 89 senatorial 
•lectors, and 180 taxable inhabitants. 
Tile land is broken and lilUy, but with 
abundance of pine and other timber for 
the Iqmber trade to Baltimore. And the 
vallies have rich aral)le lands, while the 
hills supply meadow and pasture lands 
of a good quality. Along the Chenango 
are fine alluvial flats, extending 2 1-2 
yniles, and nearly one mile wide ; and 
the soil of these is warm, rich and pro- 
tluctive. The settlements are compara- 
tively new and recent, having all been 
made within 20, and principally within 
12 years from 1810. TJic lands are held 
principally in fee. The Village of Chk- 
3fANrjo-Poi>'T, or Binghamton, has the 
County buildings, about 45 houses and 
stores, and a post-office. Its trade is ra- 
pidly increasing with its population, and 
it promises to become a place of very 
considerable importance. Bog iron-ore is 
found, but I do not learn that it is yet 
wrought into iron. In 1808, the E. jiart 
of Union was annexed to Chenango, 
which had been reduced to a small area 
by the erection of Windsor from the E. 
part of Chenango in 1807. 

N.T.,E.C.,W.R. 
CuEMCNfj,* a Post-Township ol Tioga 
County, 10 miles S. W. of Spencer Vil- 
lage, and 19S miles from Albany: bound- 
ed N. by Cayuta, easterly by '.'pencer 
and O'.vego, or Cayuta creek, S. by the 
State of i'ennsylvania, W. by Elmira.— ^ 
The Tioga or Cheniimg river crosses the 
S. end to near the S. E. corner ; and it 
has several small mill-streams, besides 
the Cayuta on the E. boundary. The 
j^eneral surface is hilly and broken ; but 
there arc fine alluvial flats along the Ti- 
oga. The soil of the uplands is princi- 
pally gravel, timbered with yellow-pine, 
and some tracts of hemlock, oak, and of 
beech and maple- Like other newly set- 

• I'his name, like viany others in this 
State, is of Indig-enal or/q-iti ; and, like 
■many others, is now of doubtful etymology. 
C/ieiiivnj, is said to be big horn, or great 
horn, in the dialect of the Indian tribes 
that anciently possessed this country. .9nd 
that a very large horn reus found in the 
Tioga or Chemiing riva; is -vd! ascer- 
iBined. 



tied countries, its settlements retain 
their local names, of which there arc se- 
veral in use among tlie inliabltants. — 
There are 7 grain and sav.'-mills, a full- 
ing-mill and carding-machine. The po- 
pulation is 683, the senatorial electors 
32, and there are about 110 taxable in- 
habitants. The J^hrroics of Chemung 
are formed by a high rocky cliff on the 
N. side that projects far into the Tioga 
or Chemung river, along which the roiid 
is conducted with great labor. On tlie 
opposite side are fine flats, as also on 
each side of this high projecting point, 
itself a rare curiosity, well worthy of no- 
tice by tourists. The inhabitants are 
principally farmers, and the lands are 
held in fee : principally settled within 
15 years. In tlie S. part of Chemung is 
a liigh mound of earth, raised 100 to 110 
feet above the elevated plain on which it 
stands, just on the margin of the Tioga, 
and wiiich Correspondents describe as 
apparently a work of art : But, its sum- 
mit is a plain of near 4 acres. 

E.B. 
CicEBo, a large Township of Ononda- 
ga County, 8 miles N. of the village of 
Sulina, 57 miles W. of Ul.ica, and 154 
from Albany; biunded northerly by O- 
neida lake and its outlet the «),>wego ri- 
ver, E. by Chitteningo creek, or tlie Co. 
of Madison, S. by Manlius and Sallna, 
W. by Salina and Seneca river. Tlie 
shape is very irregular, and it may con- 
tain about 49,000 acres. Tlie great Stale 
Road from Rome, leads tii rough this 
Town, as does tliat from Mexico to Sa- 
lina, and, together with tl;e waters that 
surround it, make it an eligible place for 
business. The iirst permanent settle- 
ment commenced in 1S02, and it was or- 
ganised in 1804. The inliabitants are 
principally farmers, who hold the right 
of soil, and whose domestic manufac- 
tures nearly supply their want of those 
articles. I'lie soil is of the best quality, 
an<I yields good cropj of wheat, maize, 
flax, gras.s, kc. — The Oneida lake affords 
abundant supplies and a great variety of 
fish, and the waters which nearly sur- 
round thus To^\^1. afford great fiicditics 
of navigation and intercourse, and many 
very valuable mill-sgats. A scarcity of 
good springs is felt, but these will be- 
come more numerous as the woods are 
removed; and though the surface is ve- 
ry level, the inliabiiants are robust and 
healthy. No houses yet for public wor- 
ship, but several school-houses, and 2 OP 
3 grain-mills and 1 saw-mill. At the 
phitc cidled Tliree-Bivcr-Poinf^ at the 



163 



KiAZWVTE^R OF NEW-YORK. 



N. W. extremity of the Town, a beau- 
tiful peninsula formed by the junction of 
Oswego and Seneca rivers, is a tract 
of 550 acres of excellent land, owned by 
the Town, the incomes of which are in- 
tended for the support of common 
schools. At this spot, a toll-bridge was 
erectetl in 1810-11. Chitteningo Land- 
ing, at the mouth of Chitteningo creek, 
is considerably used as such. The po- 
pulation in 1810, 250, and 29 senatorial 
clectoi's. ER. 

CiNciNJTATrs, a Post-Township in the 
S. ii. corner of Cortlandt County, 14 
miles S. E. of Homer, and 140 miles W. 
of Albany ; bounded N. by Solon, E. by 
"Chenango County, S. by Broome County, 
W. by Virgil. It is 10 miles square, be- 
ing the S. E. corner Township of tlie Mi- 
litary tract. The soil is of an excellent 
cjuality, and it is well watered by snirdl 
streams. The Tioughnioga creek crosses 
the S. W. part, and the Otselick, a 
branch of this, the E. part ; and these 
with some smaller streams furnish abun- 
dance of sites for mills. There are 3 
grahi-mills, 8 saw-mills, 1 fulling-mill, 
and a carding-machine. There is a soci- 
ety of Baptists and 1 of Metliedists also, 
but having no houses of public worshij) 
yet erected, meetings arc held in the 
school-houses, of which tiicre are 8 in 
tliis Town. The settlement commenced 
in 1798, and there are now 1527 persons, 
and 260 taxable inhabitants. The sena- 
torial electors are 169. Tlw timber con- 
sists of maple, elm, beech, bass-wood, 
&c., and there are some fine groves of 
pine. Iron-ore is found, of a good qual- 
it)-, but is not yet wrouglit into iron, 
though works are about to be erected 
for that purpose. Cincinnatiis has some 
turn]nkes, and the common roads are 
numerous and good. The taxable pro- 
perty was asseshied at a valuation of 89,- 
837 dollars, in IB 10. Tlie inhabitants 
are principally from the Eastern .Stales. 

Ci-ARtKCE, a Post-Township of Niaga- 
ra County, 280 miles W. of Albany; 
bounded N. by Tonnewanta creek or the 
Town of Cambria, E. by Genesee Comi- 
ty, S. by Willinck, \V. by Bufiklo. It is 
{ibout 16 miles long N. and S., and 12 
rniles E. and W. It is well supplied with 
mill-streams that run W. to Lake Erie 
or Niagara river. The Tonnewanta on 
the N.'has many branches, as has Buffa- 
lo creek in the S., and Ellicott's creek 
runs centi-ally across it to the W. This 
siream is crossed near llic centre of the 
Tom u by the great joad trom Albany to 



Niagara. Clarence was erected in 1808, 
and then extended W. to Niagara river ; 
but in 1810, Buffalo was erected from 
the western part. The surface of the 
land is but moderately uneven or quite 
level, and thore are extensive prairies of 
rich and valuable lands. In the N. is 
a ledge of lime-stone extending E. and 
W., along which is the road before no- 
ticed. The population is very rapidly 
increasing by families principally from 
the Eastern States. In 1810 the whole 
population was 1331, when there were 
IOC) senatorial electors. About 20 miles 
E. of Bufi'alo, on the road to Batavia, is 
a curious mineral spring, constantly bub- 
bling with tlie 'emission of air ; and a 
Cories])ondent who examined its waters, 
thinks they possess a peculiar and strong 
petrifactive quality. 

NT., R.P. 

CLAttKSTOW->-, a Post-Township of 
Rockland County, situated on the W.bank 
of the Hudson, 132 miles S. of Albany, 38 
N. of New-York, containing the County 
buildings ; bounded northerly by Haver- 
straw, E. by the Hudson or Westchester 
County, S. by Orange town, W. by Hamp- 
stead. On the E. it is washed by Tap- 
pan bay, a wide place of the Hudson, 
and the Ilackinsack river of New-Jer- 
5;ey winds centrally southward across 
this Town, rising in the N. part from 
some springs. The surface is hilly ; and 
near the river is a high range of hills, 
called Hook Mountain, between which 
are the Niitk hills, and their quarries of 
brown sand-stone, extensively used on 
the Hudson for building. I'here is a 
natural pond of 1 mile bro.ad, which 
abounds with pike and other fish for the 
bulgier. This Town is principally occvi^r 
pied by Dutch farmers of ancient lineal 
possession, and is pretty well cultivated. 
Its population in 1810, agreeable to thut 
Census, 1,996, 87 of wliich arc skives.-^ 
The senatorial electors 212. There is a 
Dutch Reformed Church, and a compe- 
tent number of common school-houses. 
Tlie honest simplicity of manners which 
characterise the Dutch population of 
this County, is en,titled to notice, and tq 
cordial commendation. 

The court-house and prison for the 
County arc in this Town, at a little Vil- 
lage dignified with the name of New- 
City, where are a few fax-m-houses, some 
shops, S'.c. J.J.W. 

Clavehack, a valuable and populous 
TownKhi]> in the heart of Columbia 
County, 6 miles E. of Hudson, and 35 
S. of Albany ; bounded N. by Kin^eiv 



gazeti'eeh of new-york. 



163 



kook and a small part of Chatham, E- 
by Hillsdale, S. by Granjjer and a small 
part of r^ivuigston, W. by Clavcrack 
creek, or the city of Hudson. Tlic area 
is about 70 sf)uarc miles. The surface 
jias considerable diversity, and tliere are 
Some ledges of rocks that (.xlend N. 
and S.,i'orminj^ hills of moderate licisrht, 
vhile the intervening' valllos arc very 
extensive. The general cliaracter is 
that of a pretty level Townsliip, though 
it has some hills of moderate extent 
■ind elevation, and some ledges of calca- 
reous and shistic rocks. On the W. it 
is washed by Claverack creek, a fine 
mill stream, and a l)ranch of this comes 
from Hdlsdale, s])reading over the cen- 
tral part and supplying many mill-seats. 
Along these creeks are very extensive 
alluvial flats, fretpicntly inundated and 
Very fertile ; and there is much of allu- 
vion along tlie smaller streams. Of 
the u])land level part, a considerable 
portion has a sod of argillaceous loam, 
and there are some tracts of a stiff clav. 
Ibis country \vas settled at a very early 
period by the Dutchi and their descen- 
dants still occupy a large jiroportion of 
the rich lands, and with but indifferent 
or worse husbandry. A scarcity of tim- 
ber is severely felt, and the value of 
lands much lessened by it. Originally, 
liere were extensive glades of level land, 
principally clay or argillaceous lo.am, 
■wooded only by scattered copses of 
thorn-apple, tlic common thorn, and a 
Variety of similar wild-fiuit-slu'ubbery, 
apj)roacbingvcry nearly to the character 
of the pi'airies in the western country. — 
And the forest groves, in general, were 
less luxuriant than in the more hilly 
lands of tlic adjacent country. Tlie 
Claverack flats are proverbially rich, 
and nothing can exceed the abundant 
luxuriance of their products. This 
Town was the capital of the County 
Irom 1787 to 1806, when its Courts 
were rem.oved to the City of Hudson. — 
The public business had so long centred 
here that a handsome Village of about 
40 houses was gradually erected adja- 
cent to the Court-llouse, on the C!a^c- 
rack flats, in the AV'. part of the Town, 
3 miles S. E. of Hud.son, on the f>heffiekl 
turnpike. This Village is now ratlicr 
declining \n popidation and business ; 
but as the inhabitants are principally 
farmers, and men of v.-calth, it must 
continue to he an elegant country resi- 
dence, and can hardly be said to <;uflcr 
by the loss of its groceries, grog-shops, 
olfices, Lq. 



Cr..vvERACK ViLtAOK had a Post-Office, 
Ijefore the removal of the Courts ; and 
the old Court-House is now convert- 
ed into a seminary of learning. This 
Town has lime-stone of a good quality, 
some slate, some samjdes of lead-ore, 
and a mineral-spring, noticed p. 71.— 
Considerable expectations have been 
raised in consequence of supposed in- 
dications of mineral-coal, but none has 
3etbeen discovered. See Greewbush. 

The population of Claverack in 1810, 
was 3,593, of which number 154 vrete 
slaves ; and there are 579 senatorial 
electors. There are 14 grain and saw- 
mills, 4 fulling-mills, and 4 carding- 
machines ; 163 looms in families, which 
yield 68,380 yards of woollen and linnen 
cloths. N,T. 

CLEnMo:<rT, a valuable Post-Township 
in the S. W. corner of Columbia County, 
45 miles S. of Albany, on the E. bank of 
the Hudson ; bounded X. and easterly 
by Roeleff Jansen's or Ancram creek, 
which separates it from the Town of 
Livingston, S. by Dutchess County, \\. 
by the Hudson and the Town of Ger- 
mantown, which is surrounded by Cler- 
mont, except on the side next the Hud- 
son. These Towns, together with 
Livingston, Granger and Gallatin, are 
within the Manor of Livingston, and, 
except Germautown, are now the pro- 
perty of the Livingston family. The 
area of Clermont may be near 14,000 
acres, and this Town is now the abso- 
lute property of the Hon. Robert R. 
Livingston, and takes its name from 
that of his country-seat, in the N. W. 
part of the Town. It is divided into 
about 120 farms, leased to practical 
farmers. The soil is various, but con- 
sists, commonly, of an argillaceous grit, 
or a fat loam, and is very well waierod 
by small rivulets. The surface is agree- 
ably diversltietl, with gentle undula- 
tions, and without waste ground. 
Agreeable to the Clenstis of 1810, the. 
whole population of Clerniont amountc d 
to 1,090 persons, of which number are 
56 slaves ; and there 8S senatorial elec- 
tors. The inhabitants manufacture near- 
ly all their clothing, and few families 
are without a loom for weaving. Of do- 
mestic stock, swelled by the numerous 
herds and select flocks of the proprle-^ 
tor, it has a proud superiority in luim- 
bers and excellence over any other dis- 
trict in the state, of equal area. Tha 
sheep exceed 3,000, with a very large- 
i yn-cportion of the Merino-blood. Tlie 
'agriculture is improving -and respectan 



161 



GAZE JTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



ble, though inferior to that of the fine- 
ly cultivated Towns in Dutchess. Few 
if any tracts on tlie Hudson, excel this 
in strength of soil, or in the elegant 
Variety of its views and fine situations 
for building. 

Clermont, the country-seat of the lion. 
Jtobcrt R. Livingston, late Chancellor of 
Xew-York,*and Minister of the United 
tStates in Trance, Proprietor of this 
Town, from which it takes its name, de- 
serves eminent notice as one of the most 
extensive and elegant country-seats in 
the state. It is sitxiated on the E. bank 
<)f the Hudson, in N. Latitude 42° 4' 
39". Clermont-House was built at an 
early period ; and, in ^777, wiien occu- 
pied by the Widowed Mother of the 
Hon. Robert II. Livingston, was burnt by 
« British land and naval force sent from 
Esopus, now Kingston, for this purpose, 
Together with the house of the present 
jiroprietor. ]Mrs. Livingston ro-built the 
house, and it is now occupied by Mr. 
Edward P. Livingston. Its gardens are 
•^xtcnsive, in a high state of cultivation, 
and laid out with much taste. Since 
the Revolution, IVIr. Livingston has built 
i'ot himself another house, a little N. of 
ihe ruins of his former one, v.'hich is 
wmong the largest and most commodious 
houses in the state. Its front on the ri- 
vtr is 104 feet, depth 91 ; and it consists 
of a main body of 2 stories, and 4 pa- 
vilions. The south or garden-front is a 
j.aeen-house, with bathing-rooms and of- 
iicos adjoining ; over these is a larg'e 
••legant breakfasting-room, and 4 bed- 
voonis. Tiie second story is convenient- 
ly divided into rooms, connected by a 
Jong gallery. On.e of the pavilions con- 
tains a well chosen librai-y of about 4000 
volumes, in various huiguages. 'I'he 
north front faces a fine iaw n, .skirtc<l on 
one side by a bcautilul wood on a bank 
raised about 10 feet, terminating in a 
second lawn, from the rear of which 
springs, precipitately, a rochy ridge, 
covered witii shrubs, trees and tver- 
greeiiS, afiordingallae ricli Lack-ground, 
'i'lii.'-: is balauCcd on the opposite bide of 
tiie hww by a beautiful avenue of lo- 
cust trees, planted in eguiurly, through 
which winds the road to the House. — 
The Hudson, with its crouds of s-iiip- 
plng, is seen in broken views through 
the' branches o\ thtse Uvcs. (.>n ilic >; , 
tlic lawn is terminaled by a stone build- 
ing with a steeple, and the gardens oi 
i\lr. E.-P. Livingston, bcibic noticed. 
JbYom the front of the house, which iaces 



the river, the view is cxteViMvc and high- I'/'fl^e IC 



ly picturesque. 'I'he Hudson is partially 
hidden by clumps of trees on its bank — 
and some islands, covered with wood^ 
add a pleasing variety to its scenery ; 
while the opposite shore is in full view, 
witli the adjacent fields, farms and fo- 
rests, rising like an amphitheatre toward 
the Catsbergs or Catskill mountains, 
which terminate the view, at the dis- 
tance of 10 to 12, 15 and 20 miles,* 
and by an altitude of about 3000 fecti 
The elegant display of light and shada 
occasioned by their irregularity, their 
fine blue color, the climbing of the 
mists up their sides, the intervention of 
clouds which cap their summits or 
shroud their sides only, with their oc- 
casional reflection from the surface of 
the Hudson, succeeded by the bursting 
terrors of their thundcr-gusts,f all com- 
bined from this point of view, associate 
a mass of interesting, picturesque and 
sublime objects, no wliere exceeded in 
this country. 

The S. front of the house overlooks 
the pleasure-grounds and a fine grassy 
vale in the highest cultivation, skirted 
with flowering shrubbery, with a rich 
and extensive back-ground of various 
fruit-trees. The bold and lofty banks of 
the Hudson, afibrding a greater variety 
of forest-trees than I recollect ever to 
j have seen on the same area, have given 
to Mr. Livingston the ready means o4" 
forming an elegant walk of near 2 miles 
long under their shade, from which., 
at every step, you catch a new view of 
the Hudson and the scenery on the op- 
posite side. In the style of all these 
improvements, art is so blended with 
nature that it is difiicult to discriminate 
tlieir respective beauties and bounties ; 
— the natural features are every where 
preserved, though softened and harmo- 
nised by the happiest efiorts of art. 

Nor must we omit, in this detailed 
view of Clermont, some notice of its se- 
lect flocks of sheep, and the more espe- 
cially as Mr. Livingston has taken a dis- 
tinguished lead in their introduction, 
which marks an important era in the 
husbandry of this country. "These sheep 
arc descended from the celebrated Me- 
rino flock of Rambouitiet, in Trance, 
and are thought to have improved i^ 
Clermont in their weight, and the fine- 

* Chrmont is directly opposite the great 
curve of tfiose moimlains wesfwai'd. See 
MOONTAINS, P(i£-e 9. 

•f See CuJiATK, Seasons and Wind.s, 



GAZETTElER OF NEW-YORK* 



165 



ftess and weight of their fleeces. In the 
autumn of 1810, when t visited Cler- 
mont, i fouhd there 645 of these sheep, 
none of which were less than half-blood 
merinoes, and tiie greater part of much 
Jiigher g-rades ; besides 260 select ewes 
mf the best American breed, and 50 half 
and three-fourth bred wethers — in all, 
955. And their numbers are probably 
much increased at this time : nor is it 
probable that there are now less than 
60,000 of the descendants of the Cler- 
mont breed in this and the adjacent 
states. 

VSoTT-^Stnce the above ivas -written, the 
Hon. R. R. Livingston has descended to 

the tomb ; — the Sage of Clermant is no 
more. He died at Clermont, March 26, 
1813, in the 66th year of his age. He was 
n grent and good man, and died full of 
hope in a glorions imvwrtalily. Hia mind 
t'jas of the 'very highest order, and he was 
eminently blest through a long life, in U7ii- 
formly employing all its energies Upon ob- 
jects of the Jirst utility to his country, and 
ike -whole -luorld of mankind. 

Clinton, a large and populous Town- 
ship of Dutchess County, named in ho- 
nor of the venerable George Clinton, 
late Vice-President of the United States, 
situated about 10 miles N. oi'Ponghkeep- 
Hie ; bounded northerly by Rhinebeck 
and Northeast, E. by Stanford and Wash- 
ington, S. by Beekmati and Poughkeep- 
sie, AV. by the Hudson or Ulster County. 
U has a Post-Office called Staatsberg, 
which is 70 miles S. of Albany, on the 
stage-road to New-York, aitd 10 miles N^ 
«f Poughkeep sie. Its extent on the E. 
line 12 miles, along the Hudson 9 •, E. 
and W. 9 miles, giving an area of ab»ut 
81 1-2 square miles. The soil is of va- 
rious kinds, but uniformly productive 
and rich ; in some parts a gravelly mold, 
an argillaceous loam, or a fat loam of 
superior richness and fertility. Its ge- 
neral character is hilly, though with ma- 
ny exceptions, and the siuface is every 
where agreeably diversified. Washed 
by the Hudson on the W., this Town en- 
joys every advantage of its fine naviga- 
tion ; and Wappinger's creek abundant- 
ly waters the eastern part, as does Ciaim- 
eibow creek the western, entei-ing the 
Hudson at Hyde Park j and there are 
several small natural ponds of little 
note, besides some smaller streams. — 
These streams supply abundance of the 
best sites for mills, of which tlicre art 
15 grain-mills, 17 saW-mills, 5 fuUing- 
niihb, 4 pl.ister or g_vpsuni.milis, and 3 



carding-machines, besides 2 large and ex- 
tensive manufactories on these streams* 
one of which is for cotton, the other for 
cotton and wool. There are 8 houses 
J for public Worship; 3 of Which belong 
to Quakers, and in one of which is held 
a monthly-meeting ; 2 are Prtsbyterian, 
and there is 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Bap- 
tist, and 1 Episcopalian, recently erect- 
ed at Hyde-Park. The comrrton school- 
houses are respectable, 25 in number, 
and the schools are well supported. 
There are also 2 social Libraries. — 
The population of Clinton, agreeable to 
the Census of 1810, was 5494, being 67 
persons to a square mile. The senato- 
rial electors are 437, and the whole tax- 
able propertv, as estimated by the Super- 
visors in 1810, 868,070 dollars. The 
domestic stock is numerous and valua- 
ble. Of sheep, there are 16 merino, 
1076 of mixed blood, and 8056 common ; 
4875 head of horned cattle, and 1675 
horses. The inhabitants hold their lands 
by right of soil, enjoy much of the inde- 
pendence and ease of agricultural opu- 
lence ; and, in common with those of 
the adjacent Towns, derive much of 
their clothing from their own farms, and 
their own houses. For the trade in sur- 
plus products, which are very conside- 
rable, Be Cnntillon's Landing and others 
offer every desirable facility. There are 
2 slate quairies in the N. part of this 
Town which employ near 200 men, and 
yield slate of a superior quality for the 
roofing of houses. This article is ex- 
tensively exported by the Hudson, and 
the trade goes principally to Rhinebeck 
Landing, though there are 3 in Clinton : 
One at Staatsberg, a populous and opu- 
lent farming settlement, and 2 near the 
mouth of Crum-elbow creek. 

The land is principally divided into 
farms of from 50 to 300 acres, owned in 
fee by its occupants, and well cultivate 
ed. There are several turnpikes, and 
numerous common roads, in good re- 
pair. The Highland 'urnpike leads a- 
long the Hudson at the distance of about 
half a mile, between which are numerous 
and elegant mansions and seats of me.n 
of wealth. Here is the e egant residence 
of Morgan Lewis, late Governor of New- 
York, Doctor Bard, Judge Pendleton and 
others, which give an elegant diversity 
to a scene before highly pleasing. And 
the Dutchess turnpike, from Poughkeep- 
sie to the W. line of Connecticut, crosses 
Wappinger's creek at Pleasant Valley, 
\n this Town, where is a fine manufac- 
turing A'illage of 50 houses, 7 miles E. 



166 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



of Poiighkeepsie. Another flourishing 
Villajje of about 40 houses, in this Town, 
called Hyde Park, deserves notice. See 
Pleasant Valley, and Hydk Pahk. A 
private boarding-.school lately establish- 
ed in Clinton by Marli Coffin, is highly 
spoken of by Correspondents. 

K.D.,R.A.,&II.E. 
ConTi^ifDT,* a Township in the N.W. j 
c'orner of Westchester Count)', on the 
B. bank of the Hudson, opposite Haver- 
straw ba}-, 120 miles S. of Albany, 40 
K. of New- York; bounded N. by Dutch- 
ess County, E. by York or Yorktown, S. 
by a small corner of New-Castle and the 
head of Tappan bay, W. by the Hudson. 
It has a Post-Oflice called Peekskill, 
where is a pleasant Village, and a Land- 
ing.': also of considerable business, near 
the mouth of Peekskill creek, which 
crosses. the N. W. corner of this Town ; 
us does Croton creek the S. E. corner 
into the head of Tajipan bay. These 
sti-eams afford abundance of sites for 
mills, the country being broken, and the 
streams rapid in their currents. This 
Toivn comprises the S. eastern border of 
the Hlgldands, and has some pretty lof- 
ty hills and summits. These are in the 
northern part, and the Town has a good 
proportion of arable land. Verplanck's 
i*oint, on which stood Fort-Fayette, — 
and Tellar's Pomt, ase in this Town ; and 
Iiere is the bite also of Continental Vil- 
lage,! works of the Revolutionary warj 
well known in the History of that period. 
Nothing remains of these works but a 
mass of ruins. 

The population of this Town agreea- 
Me to the Census of 1810, was 3054, and 
there are 182 senatorial electors. The 
taxable property as assessed in 1810, 
amounted to 458,230 dollars, and there 
'.rere 421 persons that paid taxes. N.T. 
CoiiTXAxs, a Post-Township in tlie S. 
E. corner of Albany County, on the W. 
bank of tlie Hudson, 11 miles S. of Al- 
bany ; bounded N. by Uethlehem, E. by 
the Hudson, S. by Greene County, W. by 
Kensselaerville. It is near 4 miles wide 
on the river, 7 1-2 o;i llie W. line, and 

* This Town received its name from 
the family of Van Cortlandt, original Pa- 
tentees and Proprietors. 

■j- TIds Village luluch had Barracks for 
2000 7ncn, ivas burnt by the British in 
Oct. 1777, '"■'fi-o consumed the time here 
end in destroying other Toums, cjfc. on the 
Hudson, that might have been employed iyi 
giving effectual relief to Burgoyne and 
the A'orthern JBrilish Jlrnty. 



about 12 miles long E. and W. The sur- 
face is considerably broken, and some 
ridges of the Helderberg hills occupr 
the western part. The soil partakes of 
a liberal diversity, but has a good pro- 
portion of arable land. Along the Hud- 
son, the surface is much broken, and the 
sail of little value, but assumes a better 
appearance and character as we go west- 
ward. Coeymans creek waters the north- 
ern p.art, and enters the Hudson in a 
small mill-stream near the S. W. corner, 
where are falls and mills ; the Haane- 
kraai, another small mill-stream, courses 
the central part, and p.".sses into Greene 
County; while the western border has a 
small branch of Catskill creek of the 
same Connty. This Town was settled 
at an early period by the Dutch, and re- 
ceived its name from one of its early in- 
habitants, himself a proprietor. The 
land is principally held in fee, and tole- 
rably well cultivated. Tliere are 2 
Dutch Reformed meeting-houses, 1 for 
Methodists, and 1 built by general sub- 
scription of all denominations: and 11 
or 12 school-houses. Tliere are 8 grain- 
mills, 8 saw-mills, a cardiiig-machine 
and fulling mill, and 155 lodms in fami- 
lies, which yield 35,490 yards of clotiis 
annually. Of sheep, there arc 4,815, 
cattle 3,000, and horses 2,020. The 
whole number of inhabitants 3,574, in- 
cluding 101 slaves ; — there are 279 sena- 
torial electors. 

There is a Lajs-dixg, with M'harves and 
several sloops at the mouth of Coeymans 
creek, where is Coetmans Villagk of 
about 30 houses, the Post-Office, 2 grain- 
mills of 5 running stones and a saw-mill. 
About 1 mile W. of this is a little Vil- 
lage of 12 houses, called the Square, 
with a Dutcli Reformed Church. This 
Town has plenty of lime-stone, and some 
shell-marle that succeds well on the sea- 
coast as a manure. J.C. 

Con jf wall, a Township of Orange 
County, situated on the W. shore of 
Hudson river within the Highlands, lOS 
miles S. oi' Albany, and including West- 
Point ,- bounded N. by Nevv-Windsoiv E, 
by the Hudson, S. v/esterly by Munroc 
and Blooming-Grove. It has a Post-Of- 
fice called Canterbury, from a small Vil- 
lage there, 102 miles from Albany ; and 
a population unequally spread among 
the hills and mountains. As might be 
supposed, the surface is very rugged, 
and the mountains are among the high- 
est in the Highlands, for the altitude ol 
which see Mountains, page 9. Mur- 
derer's creek spreads over the norlhcir. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



W, 



part, and supplies good mill-seats ; and 
this part is less broken, afFordinij good 
farming- land. Cornwall Landing has a 
small Village, several sloops, and con- 
siderable trade, principally in stone and 
wood for building and fuel. 

The population of Cornwall in 1810, 
was 1,769, when there were 95 senatori- 
al electors. This country affords the 
best of pasturage, and its dairy is de- 
servedly esteemed for an uncommon 
richness. 

West-Point, in this Town, at the pas- 
sage of the Hudson through the Higli- 
lands, was strongly fortified during the 
war for Independence, and it is deemed 
one of the most important Military Posts 
in the United States. Here are the 
venerable ruins of Fort Putnam, and 
near it, also, those of Forts Montgome- 
ry and Clinten. See the article West- 
PoixT, and also OBAXCECoDNxr. These 
works have been often described, and 
are well known to the public. A Mili- 
tary Academy is established at West- 
Point, under the auspices of the Generni 
Government ; and there is also a small 
body of waiting-soldiers, in the livery 
of the United States 

Butter-hill, in this Town, at the north- 
ern entrance into the Highlands, is well 
known to persons navigating the Hud- 
son. Its summit, close on the margin 
of the Hudson, attains an altitude of 
1,432 feet above high-water mark. 

N.T. 

CoLONiE, a small Township of Albany 
County, 1 mile N. of Albany; bounded 
N. by Water-Vliet, E. by the Hudson, 
S. by Albany, W. by Water-Vliet. This 
Town extends from the N. botmds of Al- 
bany along the Hudson to Mill creek, 
being about three quarters of a mile ; 
up Mill creek 1 mile, and the \V. line is 
drawn tlience to the City bounds, p^tral- 
lel with the Hudson ; the area being less 
than that of any other Town in the stale. 
it was erected in 1808, from the S. E. 
corner of Water-Vliet, and comprises a 
population of 1406 souls, including 30 
slaves ; and there are 108 senatorial e'ec- 
tors. The compact Village of Colonic 
is continuous with Albany, of which it 
forms a large and populous suburb, 
though legally organised under a sepa- 
rate municipality. See Aldajjt Citt. — 
Tliis Village is incorporated, and con- 
tains 245 houses and stores, principally 
on one street, excepting for a short dis- 
tnmce in the S., adjoining to Albany, 
where are several streets and squares. 
Here are also several manufactories, be- 



sides 2 breweries, a distillery, 2 large 
tanner's W9rks, a tallow chandlery, rope- 
works, &c., and there is 1 grain-mill. — 
The extensive tobacco manufactory no- 
ticed under Albany, is on Mill creek, 
principally in Watervllet, though some 
part of the works are in this Town. On 
the E. side of the principal street stands 
an Arsenal belonging to the State. It is 
a large brick edifice, filled wltli warlike 
stores, connected with which is a large 
yard and some offices or houses for 
guards, &c. — The river-hill presents el- 
egant sites for building, overlooking a 
fine extensive flat on which is the com- 
pact population. This flat is low, and 
some part of it is annually inundated 
by the waters of the Hudson. It Is now 
partly in meadow, pasture, and commons. 
From the N. E. corner is a ferry to Bath, 
a small village on the opposite shore of 
the Hudson. 

CoYACKiK, a Post.^Township of Greene 
County, 8 miles N. of CiUskiU, and 2.^ 
S. of Albany ; bounded N. by New-Bulti- 
more erected from this Town in 1811, 
E. by the Hudson, S. by Catskill, W. by 
Caii'o and Greeneville. Catskill creek 
runs along the \V. line, and several 
branches spread over the interior ; Co.x- 
ackie creek traverses the N. line, and 
along the E. part is a small mill-strean\ 
that runs S. to the Hudson at the S. E. 
corner. These streams supply abua- 
dance of mill-seats, on which are grain 
and saw-mills, fulling-mills andcarding- 
raachines. There is a small pond 2 miles 
S. W. of the Village, whicli covers about 
25 acres. In the W. the surface is bro- 
ken and hilly, but the E. part is level, 
with much pine plain, and a soil of light 
sand or .sandy loam, and some consider- 
able tracts of clay, Coxackie was orig- 
inally settled by the Dutch, who consti- 
tute a pretty larg:e portion of the present 
inhabitants. In 1810, the taxable pro- 
perty amounted to 538,7'75 dollars, when 
the whole population was 4,057, includ- 
ing 164 slaves ; and there were 376 se- 
natorial electors. What part of this po- 
pulation, &c., are now included in the 
Town of New-Baltimore, I am unable to 
say ; probably less than half, and some 
of my Correspondents say less than one 
third. The division was made since the 
last Census. The land is principally 
held in fee. There are 3 Landings on the 
Hudson, I and 1^ miles apart, at one of 
which is the Post-Office, 22 miles from 
Albany, and 8 N. of Hudson. At these 
Landings are some houses, several store.s, 
and S sloops ; ai^d W. of these is the 



168 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



VuLAGE of CoxACKiK, extending' W. a 
bout 1 mile on a handsome plain. This 
Village has been principally built since 
1800, and now contains, 1812, including 
the Landings, about 100 dwellings, 15 
stores, and a handsome Dutch Reformed 
Church. The plain on which this Vil- 
lage stands is 2 miles broad, and extends 
northerly near 10 miles. The soil is a 
light sandy loam, and few places have a 
^ore pleasant situation. Its trade is 
very considerable and increasing, and a 
turnpike extending to the W. is thought 
to have greatly increased it in amount. 
A large part of the present trade is in 
lumber, and traders assert that it en- 
joys superior advantages for ship-build- 
building, fiom the abundance, and excel- 
lence of its timber near the water. 

J.L.R , & W. & D. 
CoBKLSKiLi,* a Township of Schoharie 
County, 7 miles W. of Schoharie, 35 or 
37 milos from Albany ; bounded N. by 
Carlisle, E. by Schoharie, S. by JefFer 
son, W. by Otsego County, and Sharon. 
It has Cobelskill ruiming eastward, on 
which are mills. Its course in this Town 
may be near 8 miles, and the alluvial 
flats that embqrder it are very extensive 
ynd little inferior in. richness to those 
of Schoharie creek. The Helderbergs-f 
spread over the country, and the ridges 
of these hills in this Town, are evident- 
ly continuous from those of Blenheim 
^nd Jefferson in the south. And al- 
though they are yet so wild as to shel- 
ter the wolf and fox, yet the intervening 
vallies h.ave a rich soil, and have been 
cultivated near 100 years. The present 
inhabitants are principally of German 
origin, descended from thoiC who first 
settled here at a very early period. 
They are farmers, and enjoy much opu- 
lence and ease, with becoming habits of 
sobriety and German gravity and order. 
In thlsTov/n, with Schoharie, Middle- 
burgh and Sharon, there are 9 churches, 
in 6 of which the service is in the Ger- 
man language. There are 89 looms in 
families, which annually produce about 
20,000 yards of cloth. Li 1810, the 
whole population was 2,494, 40 of which 
were slaves, and there were also 257 se- 
natorial electors. N.T., E.H. 

CoxsTAiiLE, a Township in the N. W. 
corner of Franklin County, 14 miles N. 

* Written also Cobuskill, and Cobles- 
nil, and I know nut -which is to be pre- 
ferred, iior can I learn any supposed eii/- 
TAQlogy on -which to presume. 
t <SVe MopjjTAiss, pa^e 9. 



W. of Malone ; bounded N. by Canada 
line or Latitude ^S° , E. by Chateaugay, 
S. by Ezraville and Dickinson, W. by the 
County of St. Lawrence. Its greatest 
extent E. and W. is 24 miles, N. and S. 
9 1-2, and it comprises the Townships 
marked Constable, Carmachus, and Ma- 
comb, with the St. Regis Reservation. 
Salmon creek, with its several branches, 
spread over this tract, and the main 
stream runs a N. westerly course of 15 
miles, and crosses the N. line into Ca- 
nada. St. Regis creek, and Racket ri- 
ver cross the N. W. corner, and there 
meet the St. Lawrence. There are 2 
grain-mills, 6 saw-mills and a bloomery 
or forge for making bar-iron, on Salmon 
creek or river, and 1 saw-mill on Little 
Salmon creek, and 3 saw-mills on Trout 
creek. The Village of French-Mills, ia 
situated at the head of navigation of 
Salmon creek, where are now near 40 
houses and stores, mills, &c., and it is 
an excellent stand for business. It has 
a Fost'Office of the same name, 235 miles 
from Albany. A small part of the St. 
Regis Indians are in this Town. The 
soil is mostly a strong loam or moldj 
and heavily timbered with maple, beechj 
elm, ash, bass-wood, with some oak and 
walnut, and pine and hemlock. In 1810, 
the whole population was 916, with 47 
senatoi'ial electors. A road from Cha- 
teaugay, branches from that from Platts. 
burgh to Si. Lawrence County, and there, 
are sonae other roads. 

F.L.IL 
CoNSTANTiA, a Post-Township oi" 
Oneida County, comprehends 3 Town- 
ships, Nos. 11, 12 Si 13, of Scriba's 
patent, Breda, Deft, and liotterdam, on 
the Surveyor-General's Maps, erected 
into a I'own in 1808, from a part oi" 
Mexico. It is about 17 miles E. and W., 
and 7 N. and S. ; bounded N. by Mexi- 
co and "Williamstow'n, E. by Bengal, S. 
by Oneida lake and its outlet, W. by 
Volney. The population is at present 
inconsiderable ; from 30 to 35 families. 
The land is mostly low and level, and the 
soil is represented as good. Some con.- 
ti'oversies respecting the title to a pai't 
of this Town, and its having been re- 
presented unhealthy, have occasioned 
its slow progress in improvement and 
population ; — but my Correspondents say 
tlie first obstacle is entirely removed, 
and the latter also, having taken its 
rise from some stagnant waters, now 
drained off". There are a pretty compe- 
tent number of sites for mills, and a 
ligood grist jind aaw-millj (;re<;ted at 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



169 



Bottei'dam. A very pure silicioiis sand, 
with a small admixture of clay,* suita- 
ble for the composition of g'lass, was 
accidentally discovered lately at Rotter- 
dam, but it is not yet wrought. Fort 
Jireiverton was within this Town, at the 
outlet of Oneida lake. The land is held 
in fee, and will probably prove good for 
grass, and particularly for grazing. In 
2810, the whole population was 153, 
with 26 electors. The Post-Office was 
established in 1812. F.R. 

CoLCHESTEK, a Towuship in the S. E. 
part of Delaware County, 21 miles S. 
from Delhi, and 91 S. W. from Albany ; 
hounded N. W. by Walton, N. E. by 
Middletown, S. E. by Svdlivan County, 
S. W. by Hancock, which was erected 
from this Town in 1806. There is a 
l^ost-OfHce called Beaver Dam, either 
ill this Town or Hancock, and I knov/ 
not which. The E. branch of Delaware 
river runs S.W. through the N.W. part of 
<Jolchester, and Beaver creek across the 
S. E. corner. The land is broken and 
hilly, with deep vallies, and small flats 
ulong' the river. The inhabitants are 
principally employed in getting lumber 
for rafting down the Delaware. In 1810, 
there were 143 families, 885 persons in 
all, and taxable property assessed at 
161,110 dollars. There are 6 school- 
houses, several mills, some carding- 
machines, &c. The Newburgh and 
Chenango turnpike crosses the N. end, 
near which it meets a turnpike from 
Kingston, the principal market for this 
country, from which place it is about 60 
miles. 

C.G.,O.P. 

CoLrsiBrs, a Post-Township in the N. 
E. corner of Chenango County, 12 miles 
N. W. of JVorwich, 88 miles W. of Al- 
bany, on the Cherry-Valley and Coopers- 
town turnpike ; bounded N. by Madison 
County, E. by Otsego County or the Una- 
dilla river, S. by New-Berlin, W. by 
Sherburne. It was erected in 1805, and 
is No. 17, of the 20 Townships. On the 
E. it is washed by Unadilla river of the 
Susquehanna, some small waters of 
which, as also of Chenango river, spread 
over the interior and supply mill-seats, 
with valuable flats for cultivation. Tiie 
surface is somewhat broken, but its val- 
lies are extensive, rich and fertile, while 
the hills and plains have meadow and 

* This is the clay, of such superior ex- 
cellence, and uncommon appearance, of 
^ehich much was said in the public jour- 
nnU, in the summer of 1§10, 



pasture lands of a good quality. For 
the timber, &c. see SiitRBunNE, as also 
for improvements, which compare with 
that in the ratio of population. In 1810, 
the whole population of Columbus was 
1389, with 96 senatorial electors, and 
108,394 dollars of taxable property. 

N.T., IN., & N.L. 

CovENTHT, a Township in the S. part 
of Chenango County, erected in 1806, 
from a part of Greene, 7 miles W. of 
Jericho; bounded E. by Jericho, S. by 
Jericho and the County of Broome, W. 
by Greene. Its streams are small, and it 
lies about midway between the Susque- 
lianna and Chenango rivers. A turnpike 
from Jericho bridge to Greene and to 
Cayuga County, leads through this Town, 
and there are other roads. The land is 
broken, but much of it is good for farm- 
ing, and well distributed into arable, 
meadow and pasture lands. In 1810, the 
whole population was 860, when tliere 
were 49 senatorial electors. The taxables 
property assessed that year amounted to 
83,198 dollars, and it is said that the 
population is increasing very fast. 

I.N., N.T. 

CaowN-PoixT, a Post-Township of 
E.s£ex County, 502 miles from Washing- 
ton ; bounded N. by Moriah, E. on L, 
Champlain, S. by Ticonderoga, W. by 
Scroon. The celebrated Fortress of 
Crown-Point, one of the best ever erect- 
ed within tlie present territory of the 
United States, gave its name to this 
Town which contains the ruins of the 
Fort. Along tlie lake, the surface is 
pretty level, but high mountains per- 
vade the western part. The soil is va- 
rious of course ; though mostly light 
and sandy, excepting the level tract 
along the lake, which is more or less 
clay and mold. Tliere are about 200 
families, though but 36 senatorial elec- 
tors ; tlie land is held partly in fee, and 
partly by lease. Tlie inhabitants are 
mostly farmers, and tliere is a want of 
good mill-seats ; there are 3 saw-mills,, 
1 grist-mill, and a fulling-mill. Thia. 
Town is watered by the small sources of 
the N. E. branch of Hudson river, 
and by a small stream which runs east- 
ward into tlie lake. TJic advantages of 
the navigation of Lake Champlain are 
considerable, and naturally carry the 
trade of this country to Canada ;— with a 
safe boat and raft navigation of 140 
miles to IVIontreal, 184 to Quebeck, 
which is usually passed in boats in about 
4 to 5 days to Montreal. Grass, is most 
natural to the soil, though grain is raised 



170 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



for home-consumption, 
school-houses. 



There sve 4 



Crn-wn-Point Fort, is near the^ N. E. 
extreniity, on a point of land jutting 
fill' into The water northward, and wash- 
ed bj' a considerable bay on the west, 
called West-Bay. This fortress was I 
first erected by the French, in 1731, and 
called Fort St. Frederick. In \759, it 
surrendered to the British troops under 
Gen. Amherst, and was occupied by 
British troops, till Mav 14, 1775, when 
it fell into the hands of tlie Americans ; 
but was evacuated in 1776, and again 
fell into the hands of the British. This 
fortress, which holds a pretty conspicu- 
ous place in the history of American 
wars, is in N. Lat 44" 3', 73° 29 'W. 
Long., and about 12 miles N. of Ticon- 
deroga. The walls were of wood and 
earth, and 22 feet thick, 16 high. It 
was about 1,500 yards square, and sur- 
rounded by a deep and broad ditch, cut 
in a solid granitic rock, with immense 
labor. On the N. is a double row of 
strong stone barracks, of a capacity to 
contain 2000 troops. On the N. was a 
gate, and a strong draw-bridge, and a 
covered-way to the water of the lake. — 
The whole are row in ruins, and the 
outworks, of which there were some 
pretty extensive, are little else than 
heaps of rubbish, barely suflicient to re- 
vive remembrance. 

Ill this Town are 1082 inhabitants, 
598 being males, and 484 females, agree- 
able to the Census of 1810 ; when the 
taxable property, on the supervisor's 
books was ^55,474. 

D.M., CC, & B.D.P. 
Cahsawjga P.O., see Johnstown. 
Cahogs,! the Falls in the Mohawk ri- 
ver, near its mouth. These falls have 
deservedly attracted the notice of tour- 
ists, and are well worthy the attention 
of every person who has any relish for 
scenery of this description. The Mo- 
hawk, rapidly pursues a devious course 
for some distance above the fall, and is 
from 3 to 400 yards broad, confined be- 
tween rocky banks, of a moderate height. 
At the Calwos, its g-enerai course is a- 
bout S. E., and tlie river is seen gliding 

+ Or Cohoes, as sometimes -.written. The 
fiame is of Jndiffenal ori^-in, and like the 
tnost such, has a7i appropriate allusion. 
Cah-hoos, or Ca-hoos, a Canoe falling; as 
explained by the late learned Indian Sa- 
chem, Brandt, of illustrious memory, -while 
cuperior mind and inielligeiice shall confer 
any claim io respect. 



over a granitic rock, smoothed by its 
own operations, and bordered with rocky 
banks, supporting a sterile soil and a 
stinted gi'owth of pine, hemlock, cedar 
and otlier evergi'eens, till it arrive at the 
fall, down which it pours at high water, 
in one sheet of ne«r 70 feet ; but at low 
water, descends, in excavated courses, 
some in cataracts, and some in oblique 
or zig-zag precipices, affording a most 
sublime imd picturesque combination of 
bold force and violence, and yielding 
subserviency i?t 07ie groiipe. The wliole 
body of waters unite at the foot of the 
Cahoos, and rushing madljf over a rocky 
bottom, pursue their course near 2 miles, 
where they are again separated by isl- 
ands, and find their way to the Hudson 
by three or four separate mouths. About 
three-quarters of a mile below the Ca- 
hoos, and one mile W. from Waterford, 
a bridge has been thrown across the Mo- 
hawk,'hcrc about 900 feet wide, and from 
this bridge, the view is inexpressibly 
grand. The Cahoos are in full view, 
presenting a white sheet of water 70 
feet by about 750, and throwing up a py- 
ramidal spray of considerable height. — 
The high, precipitous, and in some pla- 
ces, shelving banks of the river below 
the falls, being near 100 feet elevation 
in some places, clothed with trees and 
evergreen shrubbery — the river, the isl- 
ands below you— and they are historic 
ground, too, in the annals of our Revolu- 
tionary war — an indefinite horizon neat- 
ly fringed with evergreens ;— all com- 
bine to fix attention, while fancy and 
imagination instinctively take a wild 
flight. At the foot of the Cahoos, is one 
of the best places in this quarter for 
angling. Pike are easily caught at any 
time, with an artificial fly. 

Campbeli, Town, p.o., see Painteb- 

POST. 

Canacabea Lake, lies between Ho- 
neoy and Hemlock lakes in the Town of 
Hcneoy, Ontario. It is about 4 miles 
long and 3-4 wide, the outlet of which 
is a good mill-stream, of 2 miles in 
length. See Honeoy Lake and creek. 

J. R. 

Canada Cb-eek, a small stream of 0- 
neida County, the N. eastern bianch of 
Wood creek, which it enters from the 
N. 4 1-2 miles N. W. from Rome, after 
a course of 10 or 12 miles. There is al- 
so a small stream of this name in Johns- 
town ; and ihere ai-e 2 other Canada 
creeks, distinguished by E. and W. Ca- 
SABA Ciat;i?, v.'hich see. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK* 



172 



Canadaway, Village and Post-OfRce, 
see PoMFRKT. Cawahawat Ciiekk, runs 
!N. W. about 12 miles, and enters Lake 
Erie 12 miles S. W. of Cataraugus creek. 
It is a good miU-sU-eam. 

Canajouahie Cukkk, rises in the N.E. 
corner of Otsego County, and runs 'N. 
easterly across the Township of Canajo- 
harie to the Mohawk river. It is a fine 
stream for mills, has several falls, one 
of which has given its name to the Creek 
and Township. Its length is about 17 
miles. It is sometimes, though impro- 
perly, called Bowman's creek, and has a 
small brancii from Schoharie CoQnty, 
called Plattekill. 

CANANDArcuA, or Canandarque Lake, 
centrally situated in the County of On- 
tario, is a beautiful collection of water 
about 14 miles long N. and S., and 1 mile 
medial width ; discharging at the N. 
end, it forms Caxanoatotja Riveh, which 
see. The flourishing Village of Canan- 
daigua, is situated at the outlet of this 
Lak?, and the surrounding country is 
very rich and fertile. 

Caxaxdaigua Riveh, or Cheek, is 
formed of tlie waters discharged from 
Canandaigua L., which, after a serpentine 
N. E. course of al^out 45 miles, enters 
the Seneca river in Junius, Heneca Co. 
This river is boatable for 20 tons to Ga- 
len Block-house, 12 miles from its 
jnoutli, and thence for 10 tons to Palmy- 
ra, in Ontario County. 

Canaseraca Cheek, rises principally 
in the N. W. part of the County of Steu- 
ben, and runs N. westward tiirough the 
Town of Sparta, to the Genesee river, 
at Williamsburgh, after a course of 
about 23 miles. 

Canasehaga, or Coivasselon Creek, is 
a beautiful stream of clear water that 
spreads over Smithfield, Lenox, and Sul- 
livan, in Madison County. It empties 
into Chitteningo creek, about 4 miles 
' from Oneida lake. It affords good mill- 
seats. For Cavaseraga Lake, see 
Linklaen Lake, in Cazenovia. Cana- 
SERAGA Village, see Sullita.a-. 

Cajjesus Lake, in the S. W. part of 
Ontario County, is about 8 miles long 
and 2 or 2 1-2 broad, it discharges N. 
and W. to Genesee river, and lies prin- 
cipally between Genesee and Livonia, 
26 miles W. of Canandaiguo. 

Caxisteo Cheek, rises in the N. W. 
part of Steuben County, and runs S. 
eastward to th'e Tioga river, which it 
enters near the Village of Painted-Post. 
Its whole course may be 60 miles, and 
it is boatable below Ark-Port, an extent 



of 40 miles. This stream, which in 
many places is little more than 4 rods 
in width, floats arks in safety that carry 
1000 bushels of grain, and it opens fine 
tacilities of intercourse with the Tioga 
and Susquehanna rivers. 

Caxoe-Place, P.O., see Southamptox. 

Ca>'Oga Cheek, rises in a large spring 
called Canoga, in Romulus, Cayuga Co., 
and runs N, through Fayette to Seneca 
river, about 10 miles. 

Casoga Sprikg, see RoMutcs. 

Castleton, Village and Landing, sCte 

SCHODAC. 

Cataraugus, and Cayuga Counties, 
see page 66 ; Chatauq,ua County, page 
67 ; Chenango County, 68 ; Clinton, 
69 ; CoLU.MiiiA, 70 ; and Cohtlanup 
County, 71. 

Cataraugus Creek, a considerable 
stream that rises within 10 miles of the 
Genesee river, and runs westwai'd into 
Lake Erie, about 25 miles S. of Bufl~a- 
!o. It forms the divisional line between 
the County of Niagara, and the Counties 
of Cataraugus and a small corner of Cha- 
tauqua. Its v/hole course is about 40 
miles, nearly W., and about 6 miles 
from its mouth, is a small settlement of 
the Seneca Indians. A more minute de- 
scription is wanted. 

CATAHAaui, the name which some 
Geographers hare given to Lake Ontario, 
and the region about its outlet. 

Catetant Creek, rising in the N. 
part of Tioga County, pursues a devious 
coui'se S. easterly of about 23 miles, 
and enters Owego creek near its mouth, 
in the Susquehaima. 

Catskili., a large and good mill- 
stream, rises in tlie S. E. of Schoharie 
' ounty, and runs S. W. through Greene 
County to the Hudson near the Village 
of t^'itskill. Its whole course may be 35 
miles, and it receives several branches, 
wliich spi'ead oA'er all the N. and E. parts 
of Greene County, which see. 

Catskill Mountains, or Catsbergs, 
see Mountains, page 0. 

Catskill Village, a flourishing Post- 
Village, the Capital of Greene Coun- 
ty, is situated on the bank of Catskili 
creek, in the town of Catskili, near the 
Hudson, 5 miles below Athens, and 
33 miles south of Albany.* 'Ihe 
mouth of this creek makes a tine harbor 

* It ivan formerhj computed at 40 mile}!, 
but the admcaaurment of the turnpikes, re- 
dvce.i the distance to 83 vfi'Ci, So snr; tn" 
Pout-Ma&lcrs. 



172 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



for sloops, of which there are 12 owned 
here. Catskill is incorporated as a Vil- 
lage, and embraces an extent of about 1 
mile. It contains 200 houses and stores, 
the County buildings, an Academy, an 
Episcopal and a Presbyterian Church, 
besides man}" other buildings, and has a 
population of 1200 souls. There are 3 
turnpikes that centre in this Village ; — 
1 kne that extends from Salisbury, in 
Connecticut, to Wattles's Ferry, on the 
Susquehanna ; the Little Delaware turn- 
pike mentioned under Windham, and the 
All)any and Greene tui-npike, besides 
other public roads. There is an excel- 
lent bridge over the Catskill Creek — and 
a long wiiarf extends to an island near 
the middle of the Hudson, that renders 
the ferry of that river more safe, easy 
and expeditious. There are 2 Ship- 
yards, and an extensive rope-walk, be- 
sides other smaller works. The Village 
is supplied with aqueducts, and has 1 
tire-engine. R.D., & J.P. 

[ This Village should have folio-wed the 
Tow7iship of Catskill, p. 154, and -was 
misplaced by mistake.^ 

Catuoa, a Post-Village of 40 houses, 
situated in the W. part of Aurelius, 
Cayuga County, on the E. bank of Cayu- 
ga Lake, 179 miles westward from Alba- 
ny. It stood at the E. end of Cayuga 
bridge, which was destroyed in 1807, 
and the Village has suffered considera- 
bly by the loss of travel and business. 
The ferry is revived, but the principal 
travelling road is by the outlet of Cayu- 
ga Lake, where the old company has 
erected a bridge. 

Cayuga Cheek, a northern branch of 
Buftalo creek, of about 28 miles in 
length, having its head in Genesee 
County, and emptying in the S. E. cor- 
ner of I3ufialo. 

Catttga Lake, extends nearly N. and 
S., and is about 38 miles in length, foi-m- 
ing a part of the divisional line between 
Cayuga and Seneca Counties. l"he N. 
end is 25 miles S. of Lake Ontario. It 
discharges at the N. end, having- also re- 
ceived there the watei's of Seneca Lake 
through Sesf-ca Riveb, which see. The 
lake varies in width from 1 to 4 miles, 
nnd has a shore considerably indented 
and irregular. In some few places the 
shore is terminated by precipices, but 
is in general about 10 or 12 feet high, 
with unbroken acclivities that rise 
from 100 to 200 feet in about a half 
mile from the \^ke. At the old Cayuga 
bridge, the lake is 1^ mile wide ; at 
T^nion' Spring's, G miles above, 2; 3 at 



Levana, 4 miles further south ; and 4| 
at Aurora, S. of which it contracts to 
about 2 miles and less. This lake freez- 
es in winter about 6 or 8 miles above the 
outlet or where the water does not ex- 
ceed 20 to 30 feet deep ; but in the 
deeper parts, it is principally open 
through the winter. At its south end, 
which is in Ulysses, Seneca County, it 
receives several tine mill-streams : Fall- 
Creek, from Cayuga County, and Six- 
Mile, and Main-Inlet creeks, from Tio- 
ga County. Salmon creek enters the 
E. shore, 5 miles N. of these, and it re- 
ceives many small mill-streams. 

D.T. 

Catuta Ckxkk, rises on the N. line 
of Tioga County, and runs southerly 
to the Susquehanna, near its junction 
with Tioga river, just S. of the Penn- 
sylvania line. Its whole course may be 
35 miles ; and it affords many fine mill* 
seats, 

Champlain Lake, forms the boundary 
between New- York and Vermont, from 
Whitehall to Lat. 45° ; being a distance 
of 136 miles, and it may be said to ex- 
tend N. of this about 4 miles, making 
the whole length of the Lake 140 miles. 
Its direction is nearly N. and S., and it 
is a long, narrow and deep body of wti- 
water, interspersed with a number of 
Islands, the largest of which belong to 
Vermont, being on the E. side of the 
channel of the Lake. These are N. and 
S. Hero, and Isle Lamotle. Valcour, 
Schuyler's Island, and some smaller ones 
belong to this State. From Whitehall 
to Crown-Point, the Lake is very nar- 
row, but here it begins to spread, and 
soon gains 3 miles in width, still increas- 
ing northward. Its widest place from 
shore to shore does not exceed 12 miles, 
and it is less than a half mile wide in 
some places for several miles in length. 
Sloops of 30 to 90 tons are employed 
upon it, and it usually takes about lU 
days to perform a ti'ip between White- 
hall and St. John's in Lower Canada, the 
distance being 155 miles. See Whitk- 
HAtj.. A Steam-Boat is now building, 
to be employed on this Lake, by which 
is the principaUtrade with Lower Cana- 
da. Besides the waters of Lake George, 
which it receives at Ticonderoga, it also 
receives several large creeks from tJiis 
State ; — Chazy, Saranack, Sable, and 
Bouquet, along the W. shore, with Wood 
creek at its head. In Vermont it receivc.9 
Otter creek, Onion river, Lamoille and 
Missisque, besides many small streams. 
It disciiargcs northwa'rd, forming the 



GAZETTEER OF NEWYORK. 



173 



Sbrell river, which enters the St. Law- 
rence near the head of Lake St. Francis. 
There are several bays and headlands, 
the lar.^est of which are S. bay at tlie 
head of the Lake, and Cumberland head. 
Ticonderoffa and Crown-Point, on thd 
\V. shore of this Lake, have been the 
theatre of great events, which will long 
be remembered. L. Champlain was first 
discovered in 1608. It was called by the 
Indians Caniaderi-Guanmte, signifying 
the mouth or door of the country. It is 
Well stored with salmon, salmon-trout, 
sturgeon, pickerel, and other fish. A 
iive seal was taken on the ice oppo- 
site Burlington, in February, 1810, 
Which was 4 feet 5 inches long. The 
ice freezes to a great thickness, and usu- 
ally holds passable from Dec. to the 15th 
or 20th of March, and rarely disappears 
till about the 15th of April. Nor is it 
Uncommon, then, for miles of it to dis- 
appear in a few hours, much to the ad- 
miration of the inhabitants. This, how- 
ever, does not take place till it has be- 
come very full of small holes, through 
which the air has escaped ; and these be- 
ing filled with water, and none but the 
most compact of the ice remaining, its 
specific gravity is of course gi-eater than 
that of the water in which it sinks. An 
icicle, formed without air-bubbles, sinks 
in water of the temperature bf 45' to 
40° of Fahrenheit ; and the Lake waters 
are beginning to increase in warmth be- 
fore the ice descends. 
Charlotte, see Gates. 
Chatau^ua Lake, in Chatauqua Coun- 
ty, furnisheti one branch of Connewongo 
creek, ahead water of the Allegany ri- 
♦er. It is very crooked, and various in 
width. Its whole length is about 18 
miles. Its western extremity is about 
9 miles from Lake Erie, where is a por- 
tage, little used at present. The Lake 
is from 1 to 3 miles wide, surrounded by 
a good farming country. 

Chateaugat River, rises in the N. E. 
of Franklin County, in several small 
streams which unite N, of the line of 
this State, and run a northerly course to 
the St. Lawrenccj opposite the Island of 
Montreal. 
Chausiont Bat, see Jefferson County. 
Chazt River, rises in the E. part of 
Franklin County, and runs across the N. 
end of Clinton County to Luke Cham- 
plaiuj near the N. E. comer oi the Coun- 
ty, opposite Point Au Fer. Its whole 
course, which is very devious, may be 
near 50 n»Ues. It is a good mill-stream. 
IjiTTf-i: CiiAzy, enters the Lake pbout 



1 1-2 mile S. of the above, and is also a 
good mill-stream. Its length may be 
about 18 miles. 

Chemukg, a name sometimes applied, 
though improperly, to the W. branch 
of the Susquehanna. See Tioga River. 
Chenango, a fine stream that rises in 
Madison County, and flows S. through. 
Chenango and a part of Broome County^ 
to the Susquehanna, 18 miles t. of Owe- 
go. Its branches are very numerous, 
spread over the S. end of Madison Coun» 
tj', and a large part of Chenango ; and 
it also receives the Tioughnioga, a large 
and valuable stream from the Counties 
on the W.— The whole course of the 
Chenango may be Bear 90 miles. 
Chenesee, see Genesee. 
Chester, Village and Post-Office, see 
Goshen. 

Chitteningo Creek, rises in Linklaen 
Lake, at CazenoVia Village, and runs 
northerly about 25 miles, into Oneida 
Lflke. It is a fine stream, abounding in 
mill-sites : 3 miles N. of (iazenovia ViU 
lage, it has a perpendicular fall of 70 
to 80 feet. For several miles it forms 
the line between Madison and Ononda- 
ga Counties. At its mouth is Ghitte- 
ningo Lundingj in Cicero. 

Chuctenunda, the name of 2 goocl 
mill-creeks that enter the Mohawk near- 
ly opposite each other in Montgomery 
County. That from the N., rises in 
Providence, Saratoga County, and runs 
across Galway, and through Amsterdami 
to the Mohawk at Veddersburgh, after 
a course of 18 or 20 miles. The other 
rises in Duanesburgh, Schenectady Co-^ 
and runs through Florida. Its course 
about 12 or 14 miles, and it drives 29 
mills. 

Clifton Park, see Halfmoox. 
Clifton Springs, see FarmingtoS". 
Clinton Academy, see Eastbamptos-. 
Clinton, a handsome Post. Village in 
the N. W. part of Paris, Oneida CoUn." 
ty, 9 miles a little S. of W. from Utica, 
and 106 from Albany. It has 55 houses, 
some mills on Oriskany creek, a hand- 
some meeting-house, and within half a 
mile, on a commanding eminence, stands 
Hamilton Oneida Aciidemy. 

J.O.W. 
Claterack Creek, a fine stream of Co- 
lumbia Cotmty, rises in the S. W. of 
Hillsdale, and runs S. W. through Gran- 
ger where it receives several branches, 
then curves N. W. across a small corner 
i)t Livingston, and thence nonh to Kin- 
devhook creek, forming the line between 
Hudson and Claverack, Its whole course^ 



>74 



GAZE'rrEER i)V NEW YOBK. 



rt'hich is very devious, may be about 28 
miles, throup^h a very handsome, and in 
general g'ood tract of land. Nearly S.E. 
■JVom Hudson, and near the Village of 
C'laverack, it I'eceives aisother g-ood 
mill-stream from thfe east, besides many 
other branches that supply valiiable mill- 
seats. 

CobelSkili^ a branch of Schoharie 
creek, rises in Sharon, and flows east- 
ward thl'ough the Town of Cobelskill 
nnd a pai-t of Schoharie, where it enters 
Schoharie creek after a cburse of about 
20 miles. 

CocHECTo K, Post-Office, see Bethel. 

CoETMAKs Cheek, rises in Coeymans, 
Albany County, and enters the W. bank 
of the Hudson at Coeymans Landing. It 
is a small mill-stream, and has falls and 
mills at its mouth. 

CoLEsviLLE Post-Office, See Windsob. 

CoLUMBIA-VlLLE, SCe iCl^TDEKHOOK. 

Columbus, see MadbiIj. 

CoNXEWoNtio Cbeek, a Water of the 
Allegany rlvei'of the Ohio, rises on the 
line between Cataraugus and Chatuuqua 
Counties, along which it runs to the S., 
tdl it curves to the W. and runs across 
the S. E. corher of Chatauqua County, 
and into the state of Pennsylvania. It 
receives several branches, besides Cbs- 
BAUGA CBEEK, witli the- outlet of Cha- 
tauqua LAKE, S.G.M. 

CoNHocTOjf Cbeek, riseS on the S. 
line of Ontario County, and runs south 
easterly across Steuben County to the 
Tioga liver, near Painted-Post. Or it 
were better, ])erhaps, to designate this 
stream as the Tioga, of which it is a 
main branch. Its course is nearly cen- 
tral across Steuben County, and it passes 
Bath^ the official capital". Its whok 
course may be 70 miles, and it is a very 
fine stream for navigation, boatable to 
Bath Village, where it is about 75 feet 
Vride. 

Continental Village, see Cobt- 

LANDT, T. 

CoOttavAGO, or Cookrjuago Branch, a 
name sometimes, though badly, applied 
to tlie northern branch' of Delawahe Ri- 
VEH, which see. 

Copenhagen, see Denmabk. 

CoopEHs-TowN, or Otsego, a flourish- 
ing Post-Village of Otsego, the capital 
of Otsego County, is finely situated on 
a gentle acclivity at the S. end of Otsego 
Lake, 6(5 miles \f. of Albany, in N. Lat. 
42" 44', 57' W. Longitude from New- 
York. It is incorporated at a Village, 
la handsomely built, and contains about 
60O intiabitanta. Here are 110 houses 



and stores, 2 handsome churches, stand- 
ing on opposite sides of a public square., 
the county buildings, consisting of a 
new court-house and jail, and many el- 
egant private mansions that greatly im.- 
prove the appearance. The Susquehaii^ 
na river takes its name here, in the out- 
let of Olsego Lake, on which are supe- 
rior advantages for water-works, now 
improved by an oil-mill, grain-mill, saw- 
mill, fulling-mill, and carding-machine 
There are also 3 printing establish- 
ments, with book-stores ; and a great 
variety of mechanical business, witH 
some manufactories. Us trade is very 
considerable and rapidly increasing, as 
is its population also. A good turnpike 
extends to Albany through Cherry- Val' 
ley; and also to the west. 

G.P.,J.P.,&E.P. 
Crooked Lake, lies principally in 
Steuben County, but extends N. near 
6 miles into Ohtario County, its length, 
being 1-8 miles. Near the centre, where 
it is l:i mile broad, it forks into 2 
branches that extend N-. 8 and 9 miles, 
receding till their extremities are 5 
miles apart. The S. end and the \V. branch 
arc about 1| mile wide ; the E. branch is- 
about 1-2 to I mile, and through this is 
the current of discharge toward the 
outlet at the N. end, which runs 5 miles 
E. and falls into the W. side of Seneca 
Lake, in Benton, Ontario County. The 
outlet is a fine stream for mills. This 
lake forms the boundary between Pulte- 
ney and Wayne in Steuben County. 

Croto n Cbkee, rises in several branch- 
es spread over the S. E. corner of Dutch =• 
ess County, which unite and run S. and 
S. W. across the N. VT. corner of West- 
Chester County to the Hudson, in the. 
Town of Cortlandt, at the head of Tap- 
pan bay. Ft is a good mill-stream and., 
receives a gi-eat number of branches,, 
which supply abundance of mill-seats. 
Its whole course may be near 40 miles . 
Crown-Point, p.c, see ScHOOWv. 

CUTCUOGOE, see SOUTUOLD. 



BLIJVBY, a Township of Tioga County. 
8 miles N.E. of Spencer Village, erect- 
ed in 1811, together with Carcline and 
Cayuta, from the N. part of the Town- 
ship of Spencer ; bounded N. by Cayuga 
County, E. by Caroline and a part of 
Candor; S. by Spencer; W. by Cayuta 
It comprises nearl}- all of Townshin y^ 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



TT5 



10, of Watklns and Flint's purchase, and 
has the turnpike road from Ovregn Vil- 
lag'e, in Broome County, to Ithaca, in Se- 
Jieca Co., nearly central across the whole 
Town. The northern part is well sup- 
plied with mlli-seats by 6 mile creek, of 
Cayug'a Lake ; and the Catetant of the 
Susquehanna, receives some small 
streams from the southern part. On 
6 mile creek is 'Cantine's Settlement, 
and a place known by the common name 
of Caniine^s Mills and Speedsvili^, wliere 
3S a post-offic^, but J know not whether 
in Danby or Caroline, the adjoining 
Town on the east. See ftlso Catuta, 
Candor, Caroline and Spenceb, the last 
of which includes the aggregate popula- 
tion of the whole, in the returns of the 
late Census. N.T. 

DANSVII.1E, a Post-Township, in the 
N. W. corner of Steuben 'County, 20 
miles N. W. of Bath Village, and 240 W. 
of Albany ; bounded N. by Ontario Coun- 
ty, E. by BatJi, S. by Cani.steo, W. by Al- 
legany County. It is 14 miles long E. 
and \V, and 11 miles wide. The Conhoc- 
ton creek winds along the E. line. The 
Canisteo head in the S. W. part, and tlie 
N. W. sends some waters into Genesee 
river. See Canaseraga Cheek. 'Hiis is 
an excellent tract of land, well and vari- 
ously timbered, and the soil is various, 
though commonly good for a rich farm- 
ing countrJ^ There is a large niarsh in 
the W. part, and Loon Pond, near the 
centre, is about 1 mile broad. There 
ure 3 grain mills, 4 or 5 saw-mlHs, an 
oil-mill, paper-mill, fulling-mill, and a 
cardlng-machine. The village of JJans- 
%'ille is pleasantly situated on a branch 
of the Canaseraga creek, near the IST. W. 
corner of the Town, Z5 miles N. W. of 
Bath. Here is a postofiice, a numl)er 
of mills, and a "handsome street of 1 \-^2 
mile in length, occupied by farm-houses, 
&c. ^he valley embracing this st'ttle- 
ment, contains 3000 acres of choice 
lands, and the soil is warm and produc- 
tive. There is a road from liath to 
Bansville Village that leads diagonally 
across the centi'e of tiiis Town from S.Yj. 
to N.W. ; and another between Uans- 
ville Village and Ontario County, leads 
across the northern part. The popula- 
Tion is 666, and there are abont 100 tax- 
able inhabitants. T. C. 

DECATuti, a Township of Gtsego Coun- 
ty, erected in 18U8, from the E. part of 
Worcester, situated 12 miles S. E. of Ot- 
sego Village, or Cooperstown ; bounded 
"N. by Cherry-Valley, E. by Schoharie 
Coii]nv-,W. by Westlerd, >S by Woi:£es- 



ter. Its waters are some very small 
head streams of Shenevas Creek. It 
is a hilly Township, but has much 
good soil for farming; and having an 
elevated surface, has a pure air with, 
wholesome water. The population, in 
1810, amounted to 902, when the taxable 
property was assessed at a valuation of 
45,431 dollars on the Supervisors' books : 
the number of senatorial .electors 85, 
and the whole number of taxable per- 
sons 134. B. G. 

-De Kalb, a Post-Township of St. Law- 
rence County, first settled about 1803 ; 
bounded northerly by Oswegatchie, east- 
erly by Canton, jsoulherlyby the Town- 
ship of Fitzwilliam, westerly by Cambray 
and Canton. It is 10 miles square, and 
lies on both sides of the Oswegatchie 
river, about 20 miles above its junction 
with the St. Lawrence, the boat naviga- 
tion of wliich is good to the river. This 
Town was purchased in 1805, by the late 
Ju(]g-e Cooper, of Otsego County, and his 
fatherly attentions to the wants and in- 
terests of the early settlers, is remem- 
bered with gratitude. Along the Oswe- 
gatchie^, are extensive alluvial flats, very 
similar to those of the Mohawk. In h 
central position, on the E. bank of the 
Oswegatchie, the proprietor has laid out 
a village, which is called Cooper's Village, 
and erected a hotel, on a liberal plan. 
This village is fast improving, and bids 
fair to concentrate much ot the trad«o 
and business of the surrounding country- 
A sulphuretted chalybeate spring issues 
from the summit of a spnall eminence 
within the village plat, and has been usc,- 
ful in scorbutic affections. 

The .surface ofJJe Kalb is more inclin,- 
ing to hilly than tjie adjacent Town.<!< 
though the lards be arable with few ex- 
ceptions. The soil is deep and fertile. 
The timber, oak, m:iple, beech, elm, but- 
terniit, aiul considerable white pine. 
Lumber, and pot and pearl ashes, are the 
principal articles sent to market. Mar- 
ble, of superior quality, and several va- 
rieties of color, is found about 4 milc3 
above the village, immediately on the 
bank of the river. Jron-ore has been 
found. There are about 100 families ; 
2 grist-mills, 6 saw-raills, and several 
mechanics, in various common bi-anches 
of business. Six schools are pretty con- 
stantly supported. The inhabitants are 
mostly from. Connecticut, peaceable, so- 
ber, industrious and ihrivnig. De Kalb 
was fir^t erected, Feb. 21, 1806, from 
Oswegatchie, being the Township of De 
Kalb as designattd on Jift Witt's Map, 



176 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



The whole population, in 1810, was 541, 
vith 83 electors. T.B.B. 

Delhi, a Post-Township, the capital 
of Delaware County, situated 70 miles 
S. W, of Albany, 68 W. of Catskill, (54 
on a right line,) and 63 from Kingston ; 
bounded N. westerly by Franklin, Me- 
red ith, and a small corner of Kortright ; 
N. E. by Kortright and Stamford, S. E. 
by Middletown, S. W. by Walton. Its 
area may be 156 square miles ; and it 
centriilly embraces Delaware river run- 
ning about S. W., an extent of 14 miles. 
Li' tie Delaware, a fine mill-stream from 
the E. part of Stamford, across the N. 
\V. corner of Middletown, meets the 
Delaware here, at the Village of Delhi. 
This great extent of surface had a po- 
pulation in 1810 of 2396 souls, with 409 
families, 327 taxable inhabitants, 216 
electors ; and there were 195^038 dollars 
of taxable property. The general sur- 
face is either mountainous or hilly, with 
deep vallies, and there are fine flats 
^long the river, though not very exten- 
sive. There are 2 small natural ponds, 
at the outlet of one of which are fine 
mill-seats ; and the whole is well sup- 
plied with water. The inhabitants are 
prhicipaily farmers, more attentive to 
the cultivation of tlie soil than the get- 
ting of lumber, a trade that enriches no- 
body but the merchant, and actually 
impoverishes alike the land with its 
occupant, whether he rent or own it. — 
Kear the centre of this Town stand the 
County buildings, in the pleasant Vil- 
lage of Delhi, on the Delaware river, 
where are about 30 houses and stores. 
There are 9 or 10 school-houses in this 
Town ; with 75 looms infamilies, which 
produced in 1810, 16,820 yards of cloth ; 
and 2 cartling-machines, and 4 fulling- 
mills, in which were dressed that year 
J2,500 yards of cloth. 

N.T.,O.P., &C.G. 

Def.rpaiik, a Township in the W. 
part of Orange County, 30 miles W. of 
jSi'etoburgh on the Hudson, 14 N. of \V. 
from Goshen, and 125 miles from Alba- 
ny ; bounded N. by Sullivan Countv, E. 
by WallkiU T., S. by Minisiuk, W, by 
Lumberland in Sullivan County, and a 
small part of the state of Pennsylvania, 
the line being the Delaware river. It 
is 3 miles wide N. and S., and the medi- 
al extent E. and W. may be 12 miles. — 
On the E. it is boimded by the Shawan- 
ginik ci-eek, on the W. by Delaware ri- 
ver and the Mongaup creek ; and the 
Xavisink creek coming from Sullivan 
Coi^ntyj rups southerly across the cen- 



tral part, raHging along the W. base of 
the Shawangunk "hiountain, which tra- 
verses the eastern part. About 2 thirds 
of the land is mountainous or hilly, of a 
rugged aspect, barren and uncultivated. 
The other third part is arable, and 
about equally divided into stony pasture 
lands and a tolerable soil for grain. — . 
The E. side of the Shawangunk moun- 
tain, like most others in the United 
States, is much less rugged than the W. 
side, and has considerable rich arable 
land, while the W. is rocky and unarable. 
The whole population is 1,230, the se- 
natorial electors 105. There is 1 Pres^ 
byterian church. The mills are 7 for 
grain, 7 saw-mills, a fulling-mill, and 2 
carding-machines. 

P.E.G.,E.R.,S.V.,S.F. 

De Rctter, a Post-Township in the 
S. W. extremity of Madison County ; 
bounded N. by Cazenovia and Nelson, 
E. by Lebanon, S. by Chenango County, 
W. by Cortlandt and Onondaga Coun- 
ties. It comprises Township No. 6, of 
the 20 Townships, and the gore between 
tiiat and the military tract. De Ruyter 
was fir.st erected in 1798, then com- 
prising 4 Townships ; De Ruyter, Tromp, 
and Nos. 6 and 7, on De AVitt's Maps. — 
Its present length E. and W., 10 miles ; 
breadth 6. Tlie Otselick creek runs 
southerly across the eastern part, and 
the sources of the Tioughniogii,* spread 
over all the other part. The surface is 
considerably hilly, well watered ; the 
soil peculiarly well adapted for grass. 
The 3d Great Western Turnpike in the 
N. part, and the Hamilton and Skeneate- 
las, in tiie south, open great avenues of 
travel, and the other roads are good.— 
There are 3 grain and 8 saw-mills. The 
population by the Census of 1810, 1,503 ; 
'^53 heads of families. The taxable pro- 
perty, as valued on the Supervisors.* 
books, 110,000 dollars ; and 213 seiia- 
torial electors. De Iluyter Post-Office 
is 480 miles from Washington, 34 S. AY. 
of Utica, and 130 W. of Albany. 

J.W.B. 

Deebfield, a Township of Oneida. 
County, on the N. shore of the Mo- 
hawk, opposite Whitestown; bounded 
northerly by Trenton and Herkimer 
County, easterly by Herkimer County, 
S. by Whitestown or the Mohawk river, 
W. by Floyd. Its waters, except those 

* If I am correctly informed, thi& name 
is formed from Te-ah-hah-kogtie, the 
meeting of roads and waters, at the same 
place. JP.?r. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



177 



on which it is bounded, are very small 
and inconsiderable. It extends north- 
erly to W. Canada creek, has the Mo- 
hawk on the S., and Nine-Mile creek 
courses along' the western boundary. — 
Tins Town was organized in 1801. It 
enjoys the common advantag'es of navi- 
gation on the Mohawk, aiid has nume- 
rous roads: That to the Black River 
country from Utica, leads centrally 
across it«N. and S., and a good wooden 
bridge is constructed across the Mo- 
hawk, between Utica and the little Vil- 
lage of Deerfield, which has about 20 
houses. A scarcity of mill-Sieats is felt, 
but tlie lands are productive of the 
common agricultural products. The 
whole population in 1810 amounted to 
1232, and there were 117 senatorial 
electors. The vicinity of Deerfield to 
the populous Villages of Utica, Whites- 
borough and Rome, while it confers 
some advantages, retaitls the growth of 
any compact Villages within this Town, 
and leaves little for local detail. 

N.T., B.W. 
Denmaivk, a Post-Township of Lewis 
County, ei-ected in 1807, from Harris- 
burgh, distinguished as Township No. 
5, by the act of organization. It is 
bounded N. W. by Jefferson County, E. 
by Black River, by llarrisburgh and a 
part of Pinckney on the south : being 
in form of an irregular triangle. The 
area, about 22,000 acres. It has a Pust- 
Office, 560 miles from Wasliington, and 
150 from Albany. The soil is various. — 
A considerable hill extends N. easterly 
quite through the whole ; but the plains 
are fertile, the soil of which is princi- 
pally a dark colored loam. Beer Creek 
runs through Denmark, to Black River, 
and affords many fine sites for mills. — 
On this creek is a fall of 175 feet, nearly 
perpendicular. The rocks are calcare- 
ous, and for 75 or 80 rods below, pre- 
sent banks of 200 feet in height, consi- 
derably shelving : from here the banks 
gradually subside. Tliis is very justly 
called the High Fall, and there are 
several others on this creek of from 10 
to 60 feet in height. The range ofhllls 
which pervade Denmark, lie across (he 
Black River in Champion, forming the 
Long Falls of Black River. This Town 
has been settled about 9 years, by both 
English and Dutch emigrants. Presby- 
terians, Baptists and Quakers, meet for 
worship in school-houses, of which there 
are 4 in this Town. There are 6 saw- 
mills, 2 or 3 grain-mills, 2 carding-ma- 
cSiiaeSj 2 cJothiei'ie.^, a small air-fi,u'nacPj 



and 3 spinning-machines. Roads are 
opened in convenient abundance, and 
there is a competent number of common, 
mechanics. The population, on the 
comparative data of the County aggre- 
gate, and the number of electors as re- 
turned by Towns, 1242 ; sen. electors, 
161. Immediately above the High 
Falls, is a small Village of about 30 fa- 
milies, called CopENHAfrEw. 

G.H.D., & W.S. 

Dickinson, a large Township on the 
W. line of Franklin County, the N. part: 
of which is 12 miles W. of Malone,a.nii 
230 N. of Albany, on the usual post- 
route ; bounded N. by Constable, E. by 
Ezraville, S. by Montgomery County, 
W, by St. Lawrence County. It is 50 
miles long N. and S., and about lo miles 
wide, comprising 16 Townships of Ma- 
comb's first purchase : or all from Moira 
and Bangor in the north, to Mount- 
Morris and Covehill in the S., inclusive. 
It has 2 Post-Offices ; Moira P. O., and 
Bangor P. O., 10, and about 15 miles 
W. of Malone, from which place there 
is a road across the N. part to St. Law- 
rence County, and one also to Black Ri- 
ver, both of which cross this Town. — 
In 1810, the whole population was 411. 
Its waters are very numerous. The N. 
end has Trout and Little Salmon creeks, 
branches of Salmon creek or river ; and 
in the centre and S. are numerous 
branches of St. Regis creek and Racket 
river, of the St. Lawrence, besides wa- 
ters of the Saranack of Lake Champlain. 
The ponds are very numerous, some of 
which, in the south, are large. On Lit- 
tle Salmon creek are 4 saw and grain- 
mills. The settlements are, at present^ 
confined to the N. end, with very few 
exceptions. The soil of the arable- 
lands is a rich loam or mold, and the 
timber various. In the S. are extensive 
tracts of pine, spruce, and fir, of littla 
value, and the wood is principally ever- 
green, while the N. end haj deciduous. 
trees, variously intermixed with ever- 
greens. F.L.H. 

DovEn, a Post-Townsliip of Dutchess. 
County, 21 miles E. of Poughkeepsie^ 
100 S. of Albany, erected in 1807, fron\ 
the N. part ol Pawling; bounded N. by 
Washington and Amenia, E. by the State- 
of Conntrcticut, S. by Pawling, W. by 
Beekman. Its extent E. and W. is about 
7 miles, width 6. The central part is 
level, an extensive valley, through which 
flow ten-mile creek of the Housatonic. 
of Connecticut, and some other small 
brivnches^ while the E. and W. parts are 



178 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



hilly. One of these streams rises in a 
swamp in the S.part, of considerable ex- 
tent, and runs N. to its junction, near 
the centre, with ten-mile, a fine mill- 
stream, of sufficient volume. The soil of 
the valley is principally a warm ^avel 
or sand, well adapted for a change of 
crops ; — grain and grass in succession, 
the great desideratum in field agricul- 
tui-e, as experience has taught that this 
is the readiest way to improve the soil 
•^rrf farm lands, and increase their pro- 
•ducts. This Town had some Dutch in- 
habitants at an early period, and their 
•descendants still occupy some of their 
farms, in the N. part. There are two 
■meeting-houses for Quakers, 1 for Bap- 
tists, and 1 for Pi-esbyterians. The po- 
pulation in 1810, 2146, and 146 senato- 
rial electors. The taxable property, as 
rassessed in lOlO, 371,269. There are 5 
^rain-mills, 3 fulling-mills, 2 carding 
Tnachines, a bVoomery of bar-iron, and a 
trip-hammer. There is also, a distillery 
of grain and fruit-spirits. Gf domestic 
stock, there are 2576 cattle, 4661 sheep, 
and 572 horses. The agriculture is re- 
spectable, and the houshoW manufac- 
tures, which partially employ 136 looms 
in families, yield 29,670 yards of cloth 
;{jcr annum. C.R. &. S.R. 

Dhtden, a Fost-Township in the sou- 
ithern exti-emity of Cayuga County, 35 
miles S. of Auburn, 170 W. of Albany ; 
bounded N. by Locke, E. by Virgil in 
Gortlandt County, S. by Tioga County, 
AV. by SenecaCounty and the Town of 
'tlenoa. It is 10 miles squai*e, being one 
•of the Military townships, and has a con- 
siderable diversity of surface, ^soil and 
-timber. Fall Creek, of Cayuga Lake, 
^with several branches, spread over the 
morthern and central parts ; and Six- 
Mile Creek, a fine mill-stream, rises in 
»the S. E. corner, runs into Tioga Coun- 
ty, and returns across the S. W. toward 
tthe head of Cayuga Lake. There is also 
another small stream, and there are a- 
■bundance of mill-seats, v/ith considerable 
^tracts of alluvion ; though the general 
•character is hilly, with some pretty lofty 
,ridges. The soil of the alluvion is warm, 
•rich and productive ; that of the uplands 
rather wet and cold, but excellent for 
:pasture and meadow. There are 2 grain- 
mills, 3 saw-mills, a fulling-mill and 
»rarding-machine. There are some con- 
v^regations of Baptists and Presbyterians, 
Vho have houses of worship, but I am 
..not informed of their number ; and 4 or 
.5 ischool-houses. The settlements coin- 
:-m«nced abovtt 1800, aitUin 1810 the pop- 



ulation amounted to 1890, when there 
were 310 families, and 213 senatorial 
electors. The whole taxable property, 
as assessed in 1810, 84,099 dollars.— 
There are 3 turnpike roads that cross this 
Town, besides common roads in various 
directions. The inhabitants are princi- 
pally farmers, whose farms and looms 
supply much of their common clothing. 
N.T.,R.P. 
DuANESBTTBOH, a Post-Townshlp in the 
S. W. extremity of Schenectady County ; 
bounded N. by Florida, in Montgomery 
County, E. by Princetown, S. bj^ Albany 
and Schoharie Counties, W. by Schoha- 
rie and Montgomery Counties. Its form 
is irregular ; the area about equal to 8 
miles square. Duanesburgh, was first 
erected in 1788, then in Albany County, 
and named in honor of the late Judge 
Duane, an early inhabitant, and a li- 
beral benefactor. It has a Post-Office, 
389 miles from Washington, and is about 
23 miles N. of W. from Albany. The sit- 
uation is elev.ated, the surface moder- 
ately uneven or hilly, the soil principal^ 
ly a strong loam, well watered. The 
Norman's kill, or creek, which enters 
the Hudson 2 1-2 miles below Albany, ri- 
ses in Duanesburgh; as does the Bouza- 
kill, or Mad creek, one of its branches, 
on which is a perpendicular fall of 70 
feet, in the grounds of Gen. North. The 
products of -this Town are various, but 
grass succeeds better than grain, as its 
elevated and uneven surface would indi- 
cate ; being about 4 to 500 feet above 
the level of the Hudson at Albany. In 
this Town are, an handsome Episcopal 
Church, built at the expense of the late 
Judge Duane ; a Scotch Camei'onian, and 
a Baptist meeting-house; and a pretty 
competent number of common school, 
houses and schoolc. The inhabitants 
are principally agriculturalists, with the 
usual tradesmen— and the mills, not nu- 
merous, are on the borders of the Town. 
Lake Maria, a beautiful sheet of water, 
2 miles in circumference, near the N. E, 
corner of Dua^^esburgh, and on the 
height of land there, is most charming- 
ly situated in the grounds of Feathers- 
ton-Park, and abound. v;ilh small fish. 
£)n the margin of this Lake, is the ele- 
gant residence of-<l. W. Featherston- 
haugh, Esq., on an eminence of about 
500 leet above the waters ot the Hud- 
son. This is one of the most command- 
ing prospects in the State, comprising a 
view of near 100 miles around the com.' 
pass. The Cat^kill mountains, with 
those of Vermont and Massachtisetis.- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



179^ 



iform the horizon on the S., N.E., andE.; 
and the wild tops of the * Royal Grants' 
hills, g'ive a view in that direction, va- 
riously studded, as picturesque as inde- 
finite : while in the plains below, you 
trace the devious course of the Mohawk, 
and discern the majestic Hudson, with 
the naked eye. On its course to the 
Mohawk, about 20 mills are erected on 
the creek formed from L. Maria. — Popu- 
lation, 3088, and 253 senalorial electors. 
W.N., & G.W.F. 
Durham, a Post-Township in the N. 
"iV. part of Greene County, formerly 
called Freehold, 20 miles N. W. of A- 
thens, 30 S. W. of Albany ; bounded 
northerly by Schoharie and Albany Coun- 
ties, E. by Greeneville, S. E. by Cairo, S. 
by Windham, or the summit of the Cats- 
bergs or Catskill mountains. Its form is 
irregular; gi*eatest length E. and W. 17 
miles ; greatest width 8 miles. The sur- 
face is considerably broken in general, 
and the Catsberg, which forms about 11 
miles of the southern boundary, is of a 
lofty mauntain character. See Moun- 
tains, p. 9, and p. 78. Of this range, 
ample details are given as above, and 
there ai'c many hills of inferior altitude 
that range its eastern borders. Catskill 
creek, passing from Schoharie County to 
the Hudson, waters the eastern part, 
and several branches spread over the 
whole and supply abundance of good 
sites for mills. The agriculture is re- 
spectable, and supplies a large amount 
of products for market ; and honshold 
manufactures are rapidly increasing in 
amount, with very good effect. Tliis 
Town has several turnpike roads, that 
connect Catskill, Athens and other trad- 
ing Towns on the Hudson with tlie west- 
ern Counties, atul open extensive inter- 
course. The Susquehanna turnpike leads 
through the central part, and the com- 
mon roads are sufficiently numerous. — 
I'here are 2 Presbyterian Churches, and 
I for Methodists. The common schools 
are numerous and well supported. There 
is a public library of 400 volumes. The 
Post-Office is kept in a small Village 
pleasantly situated on the Susquehanna 
turnpike, near the centre, where the 
Town business is transacted. This is 
called Durham Village, though in deri- 
sion it has had other names. The little 
Village called Oak-Hill is eituated on 
the Schoharie turnpike, 1 1-4 mile N.E. of 
the above, and on the main brajicli of 
Schoharie creek. The soil is of various 
qualities, but generally well adapted for 
,^rass, aitd the whole i-> wcU walci'cd; — 



The population in 1810, 2944, and the 
senalorial electors 288 ; when the taxa- 
able property was assessed at 255,373 
dollars. H.S. 

Deer Creek, see Denmark. 

Delaware, a large river of Pennsylva-- 
nia, on which stands the City of Phila 
delphia, has its extreme northern source 
in the small lake or pond called Utsy 
anthe, on the S. line of Sehoharie Goun 
ty of this State. From here it runs &, 
W. across Delaware County, to the E 
line of Broome, where it turns short 
and pursues a S. easterly course to the 
northern angle of New-Jersey, forming 
the S. western boundary of Delaware and 
Sullivan. Counties towards Pennsylvania, 
with a small angle of Orange County al 
so. Its whole course in this State, and 
on its boundary toward Pennsylvania^, 
may be near 140 miles. In its course it 
receives several considerable branches 
from this State, the largest of which is 
Papachton, also in Delaware County , 
and the main stream across this County 
is sometimes called the Mohawk, and the 
Cookquago Branch, which ought always 
to yield to the continuous name of Del- 
aware, as being the longer and principai 
stream. The Village of DelM is on thij. 
stream;, a little N. E, of the geographi ■ 
cA centre of Delaware County. The 
Mongaup and the Navisink, are the other 
principal branches. 

Delaware Countt, see page 72 i 
Dutchess County, see p. 73. 

Deposit, Village of, see Tompkins. 

Devil's Hoie, a tremendous chasm in 
the rocks, forming a large bay, on the 
eastern side of Niagara river, 4 miles 
below the Falls. Its form is nearly semir 
circular, and it is about 1200 feet in cir- 
cumference. This bay is remarkable 
for a great eddy, and a strong commo- 
tion of the water ; and is the genera! 
depository of such floating substances as 
are conveyed hither by the current.^ 
The rpcks- which form the sides of this, 
chasm, present the same geological fea- 
tures, as those above and below, be- 
tween the Falls and I^ewiston, and this 
bay was evidently formed by the same 
process as the channel of the river be- 
tween those places. J.H. , 

DixiiiLLo, p.o^ see Hcnti.vgton. 

Drake's Settlejie^j t, see Spencer, 

The OnowNEn L.vxos, of Orange Coun- 
ty, lie along Wallkill creek, in the 
Towns of Minisink, Warwick and Go- 
slien. When drained of the water, they 
have a deep soil of rich vegetable mold* 
which produces good crops of hemp. 



180 



GAZETTEER OF NEAV-YORK. 



and are found to be very productive and 
valuable. The tract so called, extends 
in length along and on each side of this 
creek, about 10 miles, being from 3 to 
5 miles in width. 

J.B. 
Drowned M;eai)ow, Post-Office, see 
Brookhatek 



E. 

EAST-CHESTER, a Township of 
West-Chester County, 8 miles S. of White- 
Plains, 20 miles N. of New-York, and 4 
E. of the Hudson ; bounded N. by Scars- 
dale, E. by Pelham and New-Rochelle, 
S. by West-Chester, and W. by Yonkers. 
It is about 7 miles long N. and S., and 
iiear 2 1-2 miles wide. On the W. it is 
washed by Bronx creek, and on the E. 
by Hutchins or E. Chester creek, which 
enters a large bay, of the same name in 
the S. E. angle of this Town. On this 
Bay is a Landing, which has some trade 
with New-York. The land is level and 
considerably stony, but is warm and pro- 
ductive. There is 1 Episcopal Church 
of stone, and there are 7 or 8 com- 
mon schools : 4 grain-mills and 2 saw- 
mills. A small Village of the same 
name on the new turnpike and stage- 
road for Boston, at the head of East- 
Chester bay, where there is a bridge of 
some extent. The taxable property as 
valued by the Assessors in 1810, amount- 
ed to 247,651 dollars, and the whole po- 
pulation was 1039 ; there were 95 elec- 
tors, and 136 taxable inhabitants. 

J.W., &S.D. 
Easthampton, a Post-Townsliip of Suf- 
folk County, at the eastern extremity cf 
Long or Nassau-Island, to whicli is also 
attached Gardiner's Island ; bounded 
easterly and southerly by the Atlantic 
ocean, W. by Southampton, northerly by 
Gardiner's bay and Long-Island-Sound. 
From the E. bounds of Southampton to 
Montauk-Point is 24 miles, the length 
of this Town, and its greatest width is 
Smiles. Easthampton was first settled 
in 1649, by about 30 families from Lynn 
and the adjoining Towns in Massachu- 1 
setts. The inhabitants are prinsipatly I 
farmers and mechanics, and the latter, j 
like their ancestors of Lynn, are many I 
of them shoe-makers. Clinton ^'icademy 
was founded in 1784, when it h;ul funds | 
amounting to 2500 dollars, raised by i 
subscription among the inhabitants.— 



Montank, in the E , contains about 9000 
acres of excellent land for pasture, and 
is owned by 120 farmers as tenants in 
common. It is uU occupied as a pasture 
by them, and from the 1st of April to 
the 1st of December, there are kept up- 
on it about 1500 cattle, 1400 sheep, and 
200 horses. This tract was sold by the 
Montank Indians to the white people 
about 150 years since ; and the remnant 
of that tribe, once powerful and nume^ 
rous, now reduced to 15 families, reside 
here on a tract of 1000 aci'es which they 
hold by lease. The Light-House on Mon- 
tauk-Point, was erected by the Federal 
Government in 1796, at an expense of 
25,000 dollars. Its site is considerably 
elevated, and the fabric is raised 100 
feet. Montauk abounds with a great 
variety of wild fowl, and the waters \frith 
fish. Gardiner^ IslandWts on the N. of 
Long-Island, separated by Gardiner's 
Bay, a safe and capacious harbor for a 
fleet of war. This Island was settled in 
1639, by Lyon Gardiner, and is now own- 
ed by John Lyon Gardiner, Esq., and oc- 
cupied by him as one farm. It contains 
about 3000 acres, of a good quality for 
grain and grass. Its dairy and mutton 
have a high reputation : and the usual 
farm stock comprises 1500 sheep, 350 
cattle, and 50 horses. On the sandy 
beach that leads to Montauk, and about 
I mile from tlie ocean, are the bones 
of a whale, which probably drifted up 
here at a very full sea. This beach was 
formerly low and flat, but is now blown 
into sand-hills. It retains the name of 
j\'apeage, from the Moniauk Indians > 
which signifies, literally, water-land : 
and in the same dialect, Mon, in Mon- 
tauk, signifies Island. The whole popu- 
lation ot Easthampton, including Gardi- 
ner's Island, was 1484, including 26 
slaves. There were also 191 electors, 
and the taxable property amounted to 
305,600 dollars. The Town Street, 
or Village of Easthampton, is about I 
mile from the Oce:ui, and extends 1 mile 
in length, the i-oad being 7 rods wide. 
It is 35 miles E. of Rlverhead, 112 miles 
E. ot New-York, and 272 S. E. of Alba- 
ny. Here are 80 houses, a Presbyterian 
mec^ting-house, Clinton Academy, and 2 
school-housc s. About 3 miles W. is a 
little Village called Wenacoat, having 
15 dwellings ; -3 miles E., that called 
Ammaganseli, with 20 houses ; — 5 mile.«i 
N. E., Jiccobonuck, 15 houses ; — and 5 
miles N. W., that called JVbrMwe*t, hav- 
ing also 15 houses ; — and each of the 
above has also ft school-house.* The '"> 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



lai 



habitants are all Presbyterians, and wor- 
ship in one church. 

T.S.L.,B.F.T. 
Eastov, a Post-Township in the S. W. 
corner of Washington County, 27 miles 
N. of Albany, and 16 S. W. of Salem ; 
bounded N. "by Gretlnwich or the Batten- 
kill, E. by Cambridge, S. by Rensselaer 
Counlv, W. by the Hudson or the Coun- 
ty of Saratoga. Its extent on the Hud- 
son is 12 miles, along the Batteokill 
6, in a right line ; and its area may be 
about 70 square miles. It is a good 
fanning Township, and is under good 
cultivation. Its surface is moderately 
uneven, and the soil of various kinds and 
qualities. The Battcnkill, in the N., 
supplies abundance of mill-seats, with 
several falls, one of which is near 60 
feet, called the High-falls. This stream 
forms the boundary toward Greenwich, 
and the works at Union Village, are 
partly in this Town, as is also a small 
part of the legal area ; the Village being 
incorporated. A large part of the inha- 
bitants are practical farmers, and much 
of their clothing is the product of their 
farms, and the houshold wheel and loom. 
There are several mills of various kinds, 
and a competent number of school-hous- 
es. There is a Quaker meeting-house, 
in which is held a monthly or quarterly 
meeiing. The roads are numerous and 
tolerably good. In 1810, the whole po- 
pulation amounted to 3253, with 281 
senatorial electors. 

N.T. 
Eaton, a Post-Township of Madison 
County, bounded N. by Smithfield.E. by 
INIadison, S. by Lebanon, W. by Nelson. 
It is 6 miles square, and designated No. 
2, of the 20 Ibwnships, on De Witt's 
Maps : erected in 1807, from a part of 
Hamilton. Eaton received its name from 
Gen. William Eaton, and was first set- 
tled in 1794. The population in 1810, 
2263 ; 365 heads of families, but 1 slave, 
and 141 senatorial electors. The taxa- 
ble property, agreeable to the Supervi- 
sors' books, 134,259 dollars. The sur- 
face is considerably diversified with hills 
and vallies ; is well watered, and the 
soil very fertile. Near the S. W. corner 
is a pond, 1 mile long, | broad, from 
which proceeds the Oiselick creek. 
There are also 3 others, little inferior in 
size. Eaton is abundantly supplied with 
small creeks, and mill-seats. Besides 
some head waters of Oneida creek, and 
Otselick before mentioned, the main 
branch of Clienang-o river extends 
through this Town fromtN. W. to S. E. 



There are 4 grain-mills, 15 saw-mills, 2 
fulling-mills, an oil-mill and 2 carding- 
machines. The 3d Great Western turn- 
pike, and the Hamilton and Skeneateles 
turnpike, lead E. and W. ; and t!ie Le- 
banon and Salt Spring turnpike N. and 
S., through this Town, beside many oth- 
er roads in every direction. On the last 
mentioned turnpike, a small compact 
settlement is denominated Eato7i Vil' 
lage, where is a handsome Town-house, 
with a school-room ; and the Post-Office 
is in this Village, 30 miles S. W.of Uti- 
ca, aitd about 120 W. of Albany. 

J.F. 
EniNBuHGH, a large Township in the 
N. W. corner of Saratoga County, 26 
miles a little W. of N. from Ballston, and 
about 50 from Albany ; bounded N. by 
Washington County, E. by Hadley, S.by 
Providencey W. by Montgomery County ; 
—being 14 miles long N. and S., and 8 
miles wide. The Sacandaga river enters 
at its S.W. corner, .and runs N. eastward 
to Hadley, which it crosses E. to the 
Hudson ; and there are some small 
branches that supply mill-seats. The 
W. part is level or but gently undulated, 
for about 5 miles, where the hills begiu^ 
to rise that form the western border of 
Kyadeross mountains, which rise with a 
bold and rugged acclivity in the east. 
The flats along the Sacandaga are of 
some extent, and present a pretty good 
soil— that of the arable uplands is prin- 
cipally a stiff loam, variously mtermix- 
ed with a yellow silicious sand. Butter- 
nut, or white v/alnut, a sure indication^ 
of a warm soil, abounds on some of the" 
alluvial lands ; and the forest trees of 
the upland tracts parta'ke of a great va- 
riety, though principally deciduous. — 
The name of this Town was formerly 
Northfield, cli^nged in 1808. The whole 
population in 1810, was 1319, when there 
were 116 senatorial electors- 

S.G.,&J.S. 
Edmestox, a Township in the W. part 
of Otsego County, erected in 1808 from 
the W. end of Burlington, 18 miles W- 
of Cooperstoim, and 84? from Albany ; 
bounded N. by Plainfield, E. by Burling- 
ton, S. by New-Lisbon and Pittsfield, W. 
by the Un.'Kiilla river, being the W. 
boundary of Otsego County. The area 
is about 25,628 acres. The surface is 
considerably diversified with hills and 
vallies, and the soil various, tlie princi- 
pal part being moist and excellent for 
grass. The timber is principally decid- 
uous, as maple, beech, ash, bass-wood^ 
elm, &;c., and there are some g-roves f** 



182 



GAZPriTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



pine. The Unadilla creek and Whar- 
ton's creek, supply mill-sites, and there 
arc some mills erected. A tract of about 
10,000 acres in the N. W. part, princi- 
pally wild, is owned by a Mr. Edmeston, 
i'rom whom the Town is named. There 
is a valuable quarry of bnildinp-stone in 
the S. E. corner. Ihe inhabitants are 
principally farmers, and their agricul- 
ture and domestic economy are respecta- 
ble and improving : Houshold manufac- 
tures arc increasing, and already supply 
the prirjcipal part of their clothing. — 
The Great Western turnpike leads cen- 
trally across it E. and W., and the other 
roads are numerous and pretty good. 
There are no public buildings except 
small school-houses, in which are held 
the meetings for worship. The whole 
population in 1810, 1317; the senatorial 
electors 90; taxable inhabitants 184; 
and the taxable property, agreeable to 
the Supervisors' books, 117,022 dollars. 
A.D.F.,J.P.B.,E.P. &J.P. 
ELLisBtrncn, a very valuable Township 
in the S. W. corner of Jeflerson County, 
bounded N. by Henderson and Adams ; 
E. by Lorraine, and No 6, belonging to 
the heirs of William Constable, deceas- 
ed ; S. by the County of Oneida, W. on 
the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, being 
9 miles square. The first settlement was 
made in 1797, by Lyi^ian Ellis, Esq., from 
whom the Town is named, by act of Le- 
gislature, Feb, 22, 1803, when first erect- 
ed from Mexico. It then comprised 
Minos and Henderson, but on Feb. 17, 
1806, the Township of Henderson was 
erected into a separate Town, i-etaining 
its name. The land is held in fee, and 
since about 1801, the population has in- 
creased verv rapidly, amountiii^ now, 
1810, to 250" families, and in all to 1728 
persons. The soil is good, well watered, 
though rather level, excepting in the '?. 
E. part, where it swells into hillocks, 
and is held in fee, which has produced 
flourishing iirprovcmentn, many farmers 
being already in very easy circumstan- 
ces. The natural growth of timber is 
very luxuriant, and affords a great vari- 
ety. Irrigated by the Great Sandy creek 
and its branches, Ihfre are abuiidance of 
mill-sites, and at tlie mouth of Sandy 
creek, a pretty good harbor, in Lake 
Ontario, though its water docs not ex- 
ceed 8 or 9 feet depth. The 2 principal 
branches of this stream, which unite just 
at the Lake shore, are each boat able 
about 2 miles. But the shore, of the 
lake is much injured by an extensive 
5^rsh, (containing some small ponds,) 



I of about 3000 acres, separated from the 
lake by a ridge of sand-banks, driven 
up by the winds. Fish are very plentv. 
Tliere are 4 grist-mills, 6 saw-mills, 2 
fulling-mills, 1 trip-hammer, a distillery 
for grain spirits, and a convenient num- 
ber of common mechanics. There are 

6 school-houses, which also serve for 
worshipping assemblies. The principal 
settlement, or village, is situated on 
the S. branch of Great Sandy creek, 4 
miles from the Lake shore, and contains 
a grist and saw-mill, a fulling-mill, dis- 
tillery, school-house, and about 14 or 15 
houses and stores. The advantageous 
position for trade and navigation, is 
highly appreciated by the inhabitants. 

L.E. 
Elthiha, a large Post-Township in the 
S. W. corner ot Tioga County, 20 miles 
S. W. of Spencer Village, and 210 from 
Albany ; it was formerly called New- 
town, name changed in 1808; bounded 
N. by Catharines, E. by Chemung, S. by 
the State of Pennsylvania, W. by the 
Countv of Steuben. Its extent is 12 
miles E, and W., and 10 N. and S. There 
are 2 Post-Offices ; 1 called Elnaira, at 
the Village of Elmira or Newtown ; the 
other Sig-Flats. The Tioga river runs 
through this Township, S. eastward, and 
there arc several small creeks that sup- 
ply abundance of mill-seats. Newtown 
or Elmira creek is the largest, and the 
whole tract is well watered. The river 
hills present a rugged aspect, but are 
not very high, and contaiw a large pro- 
portion of arable land, dry, warm and 
productive, as is the upland in general. 
The alluvial flats along tlif river are ex- 
tensive and rich. The land is held in 
fee, and tlie settlements are about 26 
years old. There are in this Township . 

7 grain-mills, 10 saw-mills, a fulling-mill 
and carding-machine, &c. The popula- 
tion in 1810, was 2169 ; the senatorial 
( lectors 165, and 220 freeholders. There 
is a small mineral spring in this Town, 
which, from accounts, must be one of 
the common sulphuretted hydrogene 
springs, useful in the cure of scorbutic 
and cutaneous affections. There are 2 
turnpike roads ; — the one from Elmira 
Village to the head of Seneca Lake ; and 
the otlier belongs to an extensive line 
that connect Bath in Steuben County, 
with Newburgh on the Hudson. IhiS 
runs along the N. side of the Susquehan- 
na, on winch stands the Village of Ei- 
MiiiA, a little N. E. of the centre of the 
Town, 16 miles E. of Painted-Post. — 
Ileie i;-; a hindsome Vdlage of about 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



183 



40 houses, and a consulerahle and in- 
creasing trade. The courts were for- 
merly held here, and their removal to 
Spencer has occasioned all the discon- 
tent that might have been expected. 

R.L., & H.J. 

Elizabeth-Town, a Post -Township, 
the capital of Essex County, bound- 
ed N. by Keene, Lewis and Essax ; E. 
on L;ike Champlain, or the State of 
Vermont ; S. by Moriah, W. by Scroon. 
Except alonsf the lake, this To - nship 
is very mountainous, though there are 
some pretty extensive and very fer- 
tile vallies. A Mountain, called the 
Giant of the Valley, about one mile S. 
W. of the court-house, rises to a ,e:i'eat 
height, singularly precipitous, and de- 
serves separate notice. I'leasant-Val- 
let/i is about eight miles in length N. 
and S , one mile wide, and surrounded 
by high mountains, presenting some 
summits of very great height. At the 
northern extremity of this vale, stand 
the County buildings, an arsenal, be- 
longing to the State, and a number of 
dwelling-houses, stores. Sic, giving the 
appearance of a small Village, called 
Pi,K\sAifT-V ALLEY. Th is Village is about 
60 rods from the Bouquet river, which 
runs northward through the valky, and 
about eight miles westerly from N. W. 
Uay, on L. CUamplain. This Town has 
been settled since about 1785, and now 
contains 300 families, and 124 sena- 
torial electors. About half the land in 
this Town belongs to the State, and of 
that improved, some is held in fee, and 
some by lease. Watered by Bouquet 
river and some small streams, there \i 
no want of good sites for mills. Tim- 
ber is plenty, and there are several beds, 
now wrought, of very excellent iron-ore. 
I'here are 4 grist, 7 saw-mills, 4 forges, 
a carding-machine, and some other small 
water-works, and a distillery. The po- 
pulation is improving rapidly. The 
I'oads are pretty good, and there is a 
ferry across the Lake to Panton in Ver- 
mont. At the head of N. W. Bay, there 
is a small Village of about 20 houses, 
some mills, stores, &c. Tlie navigation 
of L. Champlain, facilitates the sale of 
produce, and renders Canada the mar- 
ket for this part of the country. Popu- 
lation in 1810, males 741, females 621 — 
1362 souls. Taxable property, g 108,450, 
real and personal. 

.S.F.,B.D.P. &N.N. 

Esopus, a comparatively small but va- 
luable Township of Ulster County, erect- 
ed in 1811 from the S. cud of Kjngston; 



4 miles S. of JCing^ston, and 69 from Al- 
bany ; bounded N. by Wallkill creek or 
the Township of Kingston, E. by the 
Hudson, S. by New-Pali z, W. by Hur- 
ley. It extends 7 miles along the Hud- 
son, and the W. line is 4 miles long ; 
its medial width 2 1-2 miles, and area 
12 square miles There is a Dutch Re- 
formed Church, but the houses are dis- 
tributed over the farms, and there is no 
compact settlement. The tract which 
now forms this Town, was called Klyne- 
Esopus, or Little Esopus, before the late 
division ; and llosendale is also a local 
name for a part of it. The whole popu- 
tion, according to an estimate made by 
an intelligent Correspondent in 1811, 
was 1026. See Ulsteu County, p. 109. 
The land is of a good quality, and has 
long been under cultivation. The elcc" 
tors are computed at 108. 

C.T. 

Essex, a Post-Township of Essex Coun- 
ty, on the W. shore of Lake Champlain; 
bounded N. by Willsborough, E. on L. 
Champlain, i'. by Elizabeth-Town, W. 
by Lewis. Its was first erected in 180J, 
from Willsborough, and contains about 
69 senatorial electors. The population 
has probably increased one half within 
about 10 years. It has been settled 
about 33 years, and is a pretty good 
tract of land, though it partakes of the 
mountain character, so common in thi;i 
country. It has good facilities of the 
lake navigation. Essex Post-OJlce, in 
this Town, is 531 miles from Washing- 
ton, in a little Village of 30 houses and 
some other buildings, pleasantly situat- 
ed on the lake shore. There are 2 saw- 
mills, 4 grain-mills, some other water 
machinery, and a distillery. The inha- 
bitants are mostly farmers, though there 
are a competent number of common me- 
chanics. Prom the Village, there is a 
ferry across the lake, to Charlotte in 
Vermont. It is watered by Bouquet ri- 
ver. The noted Split rock, of which so 
much has been said, and which is so el- 
egantly described in most geographical 
works, in the language of Gen. Woolsey, 
is in this Town. Population, 1810, 118(3 , 
males 616, females 570. Taxable pro- 
perty, 122,734 dollars. 

S.F. & BJD.P 

ExETEH, a Township of Otsego Coun- 
ty, 10 miles N. AV. of Cooperstown, antl 
73 miles W- from Albany ; bounded N, 
by Richfield, E. by Otsego, S. by Bur- 
lington, W. by Plainfield, being abou*: 

5 1-4 miks square. Butternut and O- 
tego creeks rise Ju lliis Town, and it 



184 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



lias some very small streams that fall 
into Schuyler's or Caniaderaga Lake ; 
but its waters are small, though they 
supply some mill-seats. Its general sur- 
face is elevated and hilly, though the 
intervening vallies are rich and produc- 
tive, the soil of these a light loam or 
mold. Its grazing lands are very ex- 
cellent, and its dairy has a high reputa- 
tion. There is 1 Baptist meeting-house, 
and 6 or 7 school-houses. In 1810, the 
whole population was 1418, with 120 
electors, 192 taxable inhabitants, and 
113,130 dollars of taxable property. 

N.T.,J.P.&E.P. 
EznATiiLE, a large Township, the ca- 
pital of Franklin County, 42 miles W. 
of Plattsburgli on Lake Champlain, and 
220 miles N. of Albany, on the common 
post-route ; bounded N. by Constable, 
E. by Chauteangay, S. by Essex County, 
W. by Dickinson. Its extent N. and S. 
19 about 3r> miles, E. and W. 8 ; com- 
prising 5 Townships in the E. range o. 
Macomb's purchase : Malone, Shelah, 
Everettaville, Fowler and Brighton. But 
of all these, that called Malone only, is 
settled, the others being so rocky and 
mountainous as not to admit of improve- 
ment at present, though they contani 
some arable lands. Salmon creek runs 
through the central part, and abounds 
with excellent mill-seats, and on which 
are erected 3 saw-mills, a grain-mill, 
fulling-mill, carding-machine, and 2 bark- 
mills. Trout creek also supplies mill- 
seats. The soil is a rich loam or mold, 
and the forest trees principally decidu- 
ous, with some pine and hemlock. In 
1810, a turnpike road was opened to 
Black river, and there are roads also to 
Plattsburgh, and to St. Lawrence Coun- 
ty. The whole population in 1810, was 
767, with 74 electors. The Village of 
Malone, has the County buildings, a 
Fi)st-Office of the same name, and is the 
largest and most flourishing village in 
the County. Among the hills or mdun- 
tains of the southern part are many 
ponds, the natural reservoirs and sources 
of numerous streams, the most of which 
run to the St. Lawrence, and some to 
L. Champlain. Salmon creek rises here 
and runs N. by the Village of Malone. 
and through Constable, where it is boat- 
able from the Village of French Mills to 
the St. Lawrejice, a few miles N. of Lat. 
45°, the N. line of the State of New- 
York. The changes of names, of the 
Towns in this County are purposely o- 
mitted, as being of too little interest 



for notice. The County was only erect- 
ed in 1808. 

FL.H. 

East-Ca5ip, see Germaxtowx. 

E. Canada Ciiekk, a small northern 
branch of the Mohawk, Montgomery 
County, which enters that river about 9 
miles below the Little Falls, and forms 
the divisional line between Manheira 
and Oppenheim, after a southerly course 
of about vlO miles. There is a high 
wooden bridge across this Creek, just 
at its mouth. See W. Canada Creek. 

Eagle- ViELE, a flourishing little Vil- 
lage in the E. part of Manlics, O- 
nondaga County, 1 1-2 mile E. of Manli- 
Ds ViLEARE, or M. SQUARE, on the Senc- 
ca Turnpike. S.M.S. 

East-River, see Lonc-Islasd. 

Eatok's Neck, Light House, see llvis- 

TINGTON. 

Elba-Works, see Keene. 

Ellicott's, or 11 mile Creek, rises in 
the AV. of Genesee County, and runs W. 
across Clarence and BuHalo, to Tonne- 
wanta creek, which it enters just at its 
mouth, in Iviagara river. It is a good 
mill-s tream, and its whole course may 
be about 30 miles. The falls at the lit- 
tle village of Williamsvillej in Buffalo, 
where this stream descends from theS 
to the middle terrace, are very valuable 
The rock is a dark colored flinty lime- 
stone, in horizontal strata, that forms 
this ledge and the fall. 

J.W. 

Eemiha, or Newtown Creek, is a 
small stream of Tioga County, that runs 
S. into tiie Tioga river at the village of 
Elmira, after a course of 15 miles, in 
Avhich it supplies several fine sites for 
mills. 

Ebie, Lake, belongs, one half to the 
United State?, and half to the British 
possessions in Canada; the middle there- 
of being the line of division between ihe 
2 countries. Its length is about 260 
miles, and its width does not exceed 
40, though some have supposed it to be 
60 miles. It communicates with Lake 
Ontario, by Niagara river, througii 
which the line is continued. About 60 
miles, at the E. end of this lake, lies 
between this state and Canada ; and 
the distance along the lake shore, from 
Buffalo to the Pennsylvania Triangle, 
would measure near 70 miles. Within 
this distance it receives a great num- 
ber of streams from Niagara, Catarau- 
gus and Chatauqua Counties, for which 
see those Counties, as also for the land 
along its shore, with the improvements^ 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



185 



&c. It has very few good harbors, and 
none wiihin this state. That at the 
mouth of the Cataraugus, is said to be 
the best for small vessels. It is navi- 
gated by vessels of a larfje size, but is 
rather shallow for so large a body of wa- 
ter. The waters of Lake Huron and the 
great lakes on the N. and W. descend 
to the W. end of Lake Erie through 
Detroit river, -which opens a navigation 
of vast extent. This river is navigated 
by vessels of 8 feet draft. I-ake Erie a- 
boands with a great variety of fish, such 
as sturgeon, muskalongin or muska- 
nunge, as called by the Indians, pike, 
pickerel, catfish, buffalo-fish, white and 
black bass, perch, &.c A more detail- 
ed description is precluded by the na- 
ture of my plan. 

Erasmtts-Hali., see Fx-atbi'sh, 

Essex Countt, see page T5. 

Esorus Crkkk, a tine stream of Ulster 
County, rises in the N. W. part, and 
pursues a S. E. course into Marble town, 
wliere it turns N. E. and flows by the 
village of Kingston ; thence nearly N- to 
the Hudson, at Saugerties, 11 miles be- 
low Catskill. Its whole course is about 
58 miles, and much of the land on its 
borders is very handsome and rich. See 
Ulster County, with its Topography in 
Towns. 

EspEnAXGE, see Schoharie. 



F. 

FABIUS, a Post-Township in the S. E. 
extremity of Onondaga County, 17 miles 
S. E. of Onondaga, and 147 W. of Alba- 
ny, or 130 by the nearest road ; bound- 
ed N. by Pompey, E. by Madison Coun- 
ty, S. by Cortlandt County, W. by Tul- 
ly. It comprises the N. half of the 
Military Township of Fabius, the S. half 
of which is now Truxtun, in Cortlandt 
Coimty, and is 10 miles longE. and W., 
and 5 miles wide. This Town sends 
some small streams N. into Chitteningo 
of Oneida Lake, and some also through 

Tioughnioga to the Susquehanna. 

Lime-stone Creek of Chitteningo Creek, 
rises in the N. E. corner, and has sev- 
eral small branches. Its general sur- 
face is therefore elevated, and the south- 
ern part is considerably broken and 
hilly, while the northern is level, and 
the soil very excellent. The timber 
consists of beech, maple, bass-wood, elm 
asJ butternut, and the low vallics 



have pine and oak, with a considerable, 
mixture of the above trees. The first 
settlements were made about 1795, by 
some families from East-Hartford, in 
Connecticut. There are now 9 school- 
houses, in which arc also held the reli- 
gious meetings, by Baptists, Congrega- 
tionalists, and Methodists. There are 3 
grain-mills, 4 saw-mills, a fulling-mill, 
carding-machlne, and 2 distilleries of 
grain and fruit spirits. In the N. E. 
corner is a tract of 4 or 5 acres of cal- 
careous marie, that burns to good lime, 
and lime-stone is also plenty. And a- 
greeable to the information of my Cor- 
respondents, this marie, or more proper- 
ly calcareous* dust, possesses a, very 
strong petrifactive quality ; changing to 
stone, in a short time, the branches of 
trees, with their foliage. Some vestiges 
of ancient works, in the N. E. corner, 
are minutely described also, which are 
said to exhibit indubitable evidence of 
enclosures for warlike purposes. The 
stumps of double-rows of palisades are 
said to be still existing in the sjround, 
and bones, supposed to have been human, 
are dug from tliiir mounds and embank- 
ments. The population of Fabius in 
1810, was 1865, and the senatorial elect- 
ors 134. G.P. 

Faiufield, a Post-Township of Her- 
kimer County, on the N. sitle of the 
Mohawk, 10 miles N. E. of Herkimer 
Village, and T6 mdes N. of W. from Al- 
bany ; bounded N. by Norway, E. by 
Montgomery County, S. by Herkimer, 
W. by Herkimer and Newport, or by W. 
Canada creek. Its extent N. and S. 8 
miles, with a medial width of about 4 
miles. The general surface is elevated, 
and may be called hilly, or broken by 
strong ieatured undulations ; but the 
soil, a strong and productive loam, 
yields good crops, and the whole is well 
watered. Its agriculture is very pro- 
ductive, and a large proportion is ara- 
ble land, and enjoys a fine healthy at- 
mosphere. The West Canada creek, 
and some small streamlets that run into 
it, furnish a scanty supply of mill-seats. 
This Township comprises a part of that 
range of hills noticed under Moun- 
tains, page 9, and of the tract called 
Royal Grants, characterised by a pecu- 
liar meteorology, and a mountain tempe- 
rature, when compared with the adjacent 
plains. The inhabitants came princi- 
pally from the Eastern states, and have 
preserved the rural and domestic econ- 
omy of those people. Lime-stone, in 
horizontal strata, which,^ quarries tycU 



186 



GAZETTEER OP NiW-YORK. 



for building, and burns to good lime, is 
very plenty. There is but 1 house of 
worship, and there are 12 school-houses, 
besides a flourishing Academy, incor- 
porated in 1803. Fairfield Academy, 
enjoys a high reputation ; bnt as it is 
aboiit to be erected into a College, its 
details are omitted in this edition.* — 
The whole population in 1810, was 
2705, 5 only of which are slaves ; the 
number of families 412; of senatorial 
electorS^ 284 ; and the taxable property 
was assessed at a valuation of 298,305 
dollars. The only place entitled to the 
name of a Village, is that by the Acad- 
emy, where is the Post-Ofllce, the Aca- 
demical buildings, and ab6ut 20 houses. 
It is called Fairfield, and also Alexan- 
dria, from the name of its jirincipal pat- 
ron. N.S.&.C.A. 

Fabmington, a Township of Ontario 
County, 9 miles N. of Canandaigua ; — 
bounded N. by Palmyra, E. by Phelps, 
S. by Gorham and Canandaigua, W. by 
Bloomfield. Its extent E. and W. is 12 
miles, N. and S. 6 ; comprising 2 Town- 
ships, Nos. 11, in the 2d and 3d ranges. 
The soil is good, almost without excep- 
tion, and the surface citlier quite level, 
or gently undulated, with good propor- 
tions of arable, meadow and grazing 
lands. Canandaigua creek runs across 
the S. E. parts, and Mud creek along the 
W. line and across the N. W. corner. — 
This Town is well settled, principally 
by Friends, or Quakers, who have a 
meeting-house ; and there are a com- 
petent number of common school-houses. 
The road from Canandaigua to Sodus 
bay of Lake Ontario, leads centrally 
across this Town N. and S., and there 
are numerous common roads. In 1810, 
Farmington had 317 families, 204 elec- 
tors, and a population of 1908 persons. 
The looms in families were 110, which 
jiroduced 25,923 yards of cloth that year. 

• Tfie Academical buildings are pleas- 
antly situated near the centre of the To-wn, 
•n a coramanding eminence, and consist 
of a wooden 2 story buildi'ig, 40 by 50 
feet ; another of 16 by 24, built for a small 
Jjoboratory, but 7iow appropriated to study 
—a Laboratory of 63 by '32 feet, 3 stories 
high i and a iieiv sto7ie edifce of 72 by 
36 feet, 3 stories high, finished i7i an ele- 
gant style. These buildings are surround- 
ed by others us d-ivellings, &c. that form 
a pleasant little Village. Tlie funds con- 
sist of S1800 cash at interest, and 3 acres 
cf kind, rAth the buildings erected thae- 
1/71. C.\. 



The Sulphurous Fountains in this 
Town have very i'lstly attracted consi- 
derable notice. They are situated about 
10 miles N. E. of Canandaigua, and 12 
N. W. of Geneva, and have somehow 
obtained the name of Clifton Springs. — 
The principal issues ai-e in 3 large 
springs, and the rocks are calcareous, 
filled with impressions generally imput- 
ed to petrifaction of testaceous shells ; 
and, as I apprehend, vei-y erroneously 
in most instances. The waters are 
strongly impregnated with sulphur, at 
first perfectly transparent, becoming 
opaque, and changing to a yellowisli 
cream color, as the precipitates form, 
which consist of a carbonate of lime, 
and of sulphur, in the state of brimstone. 
In this state they emit great quantities 
of sulphuretted hydrogene, which dif- 
fuses the scent to very considerable 
distances. Yet plants grow in these 
springs, though covered with the depo- 
sition of sulphurous . and calcareous 
matter, as are the stores also, and 
every other body resting in the wa- 
ter ; and cattle drink freely of them 
without injury or any perceptible effects. 
Where one of these springs rises, is a 
spotof 5or 6 rods diameter, completely 
covered witlt these mineral precipitates, 
principally sulphur, which is found to be 
in some places near 6 feet deep : and cart- 
loads of it may be collected in a few 
mhiutes, though mixed with every sub- 
stance which chance has thrown into 
the mass. And yet abundant as it is, I 
do not learn that any attempts have 
been made to cleanse or mantifactiire 
any of it for use. The rocks of this re- 
gion partake very abundantly of that 
peculiar fetor, noticed under Mimu- 

nALOGY, p. 24. 

S.B.,J.C.S., &5.L.]Vr. 
Fatette, a Township occupying tlie 
central part of Seneca County, 18 miles 
N. of Ovid, 6 miles E. of Geneva, and 
188 miles a little N. of W. from Alba- 
ny ; bounded N. by Junius, E. by Cay- 
uga Lake and County, S. by Romulus. 
W. by Seneca Lake or the County of^ 
Ontario. It is about 9 miles E. and W., 
with a medial extent N. and S. of near 
7 miles ; first erected into a Town in 
1801, from the N. part of Romulus, and 
called Washington till 1808. Boundted 
on the E. and W. by the above lakes, 
and on the N. about 6 n.iles by Seneca 
river, it enjoys good advant.iges of na- 
vigation, and there are other streams 
that supply mills-seats, 3 or 4 of which are 
' on the t'i.n'.iga creek that issues t'wni 



GAZETTEER OF NEWYORK. 



18" 



Canog-a sprint^ in Romulus. And at its 
mouth in Seneca rivei*, are fulls nlso 
that suppl}' mills. There are in all, 2 
g;rain-mills, 4 saw-mills, a carcllng;-ma- 
rhine, and 2 distilleries also. In 1810, 
the whole population was 1754, 43 of 
which were slaves, and 156 senatori.il 
electors. The lands are held in tee or 
bvright of soil, and the inhabit mis are 
principally farmers. The looms in fa- 
milies Are 63, Avhich produced in 18t0, 
15,o99 yards of cloth. The soil nf tliis 
Town is ricli and productive, and tlie 
surface either level or but moderately 
imeveii. Fayette has been settled since 
1789 ; the inhabitants principully oil 
German extract, wlio came hitiier from 
Pennsylvania. There are 2 congrrga- 
tions of religious professors, and 7 i 
school-houses. There are pretty good I 
roads along the lakes, to Cieneva, and ; 
to W. Cavuga,' in .Tuuius, from Tioga 
County. At the mouth of Canoga creek 
is a small Village on the S. bank of Se- 
neca river, called Scawas or Jefferson, 
where are 12 houses and mills, 7 miles 
E. of Geneva. N.T., J.S. 

FiSHKiLL, a Post-Township of Dutch- 
ess County, 10 miles S. of Poii§Iikeepsie, 
and 95 S. of Albany; bounded K. by 
Reekman, S.by Frederick and Philips, 
W. by the Hudson and Wappinger's 
creek, which separates it from Pough- 
keepsie. The northern extremity ter- 
minates In a point, nearly E. of Pough- 
keepsie Village. Fishkill creek* gives 
its name to this Town, and runs pretty 
centrally across it S. W. to the Hudson, 
which it entei's at the S. W. corner of 
the Township. The surface is consider- 
ably diversified in t!ie S. and S. W. by 
some ridges of the Flighland mountains, 
and these ranges are often called Fish- 
kill hills or mountains. In the S. E. 
are some hills that belong to what is 
called West Mountain. The central 
part is level, and the soil a light sand, 
with tracts of loam. On these sandy 
plains, the use of gypsum as a manure, 
has been of eminent service. There ai-e 
2 Landings on the Hudson, and very con- 

* The early Dutch inhabitants called 
this Vis-Kill, -which is Fish Creek, an 
axikrivard name for a To-wn ; but no more 
so than Catshill, -which is also applied to 
a lofty and extensive range of mountains .' 
Fish-creek-creek, is noxv a necessary dis- 
tinction from Fish creek Te-ivn or To-wn- 
»hip : and a remedy for such inconvenieti- 
ces in appellatives, is surely worthy ofl-e- 
.^islativc consideration. 



siderable business. On the plains, 5 
miles E. of the Hudson, is the Village of 
Fishkill, where are 2 churches, and a. 
small c^^llection of houses. The small 
Village of ffdpeivell in the E., has a 
Dutch Reformed church ; as has also 
New-IIackinsack in the N. W. There 
is also a Baptist church at a place called 
Middlebush. This Town was settled 
before any other in the Coimty, and its 
present inhabitants are principally the 
descendants of the early Dutch settlers. 
At the niouth of Wapp'.nger's creek, the 
line between this Town and Pough- 
keepsif, there is a draw-bridge, and a 
landing that employs 4 sloops ; here is 
also a Post-Office of the same name. In 
1810, the population of this Town was 
fi,930, with 508 electors ; and the taxa- 
ble property was valued at 1,409,353 
dollars. There are 18 grain-mills, 2 
fulling-mills, 2 carding-machines, an 
oil-mill, and a distillery. The sheep 
amount to 11,606, cattle 7,042, horses 
2,254. Tiiere are 127 looms in families, 
which jirodncc annually, with the aid 
of the carding-maciiiues, about 35,000 
yards of cloth for common clothing. 
.J.V.W.,S.R.,&.G.R. 
Flvtbush, a Township of Kings Corn- 
ty, 4j mi!es from Brooklyn-Ferry, 
near the \V. end of Long-Island, the 
ctpital of the County of Kings ; bound- 
ed northerly by Brooklyn and Bushwjck, 
and a part of Queens County, cast by 
Queens County, southerly by Flatlands 
and Jaraaicx-bay, W. by Gravesend-. Its 
form is very irregular. The soil of the 
W. part is a light loam, and the E. part, 
or what is called New-Lots, has a light 
sand; bnt produces good crops of grain 
and grass, and is warm and easy to till. 
The inhabitants are principally farmers, 
and I am assured, by well informed Cor- 
respondents, that they send annuallv to 
market 20,000 bushels of barley, and as 
many of maize or Indian corn. Along 
the bay is a salt-m.arsh, yielding an in- 
different quality of hay. There are 2 
tide-mills, and 1 wind-milh Prospect- 
hill, is thought to be elevated near 300 
feet above the level of the plain, and 
overlooks four of the adjacent Town- 
ships, commanding also a very extensive 
sea-view. This hill is about half a mile 
N. W. of Flatbcsh Village, the capital 
of the county, which is pleasantly situ- 
ated on a handsome plain, 4 12 miles 
from Brookl) n Ferry. There are about 
100 houses, on a street of 1 1-2 mile in 
length ; the County buildings, an elegant 
s^one church, and an incoi-porated Aca- 



188 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



demy, called Erasmus-Hall. There is a 
turnpike from Brooklyn to this place. 
The court-house and jail are near the 
centre of the village, and make a hand- 
pome appearance. Fa-asmus-IIall Acade- 
my is a flourishing institution ; and there 
are 2 common schools, which are conti- 
nued through the year. The whole po- 
pidation of this Town, in 1810, was llo9, 
with 83 electors ; the taxable pi-operty 
amounted to 369,168 dollars. 

J.C.V. 
Flatiands, a small Township of Kings 
County, on the S. side and near the W. end 
of Long-Island, 71-2 miles a little E. of S. 
from New-York; bounded northerly by 
Flatbush, southerly by Jamaica Bay, and 
westerly by Gravesend. Barren- Island, 
situated in the mouth of Jamaica Bay, 
is attached to this Town; and tlie S. 
part is consideiably indented by niimer- 
ous bays. Tiie surface is very level, and 
the soil is either a light sand or sandy 
loam, warm, easy and pleasant to till ; 
and being well manured, yields a great 
variety of products. Along the bay 
above-mentioned, is an extensive salt- 
marsh, which yields abundance of hay 
of an indifferent quality. With the ex- 
ception of this marsh, there are no waste 
lands, and the whole is divided into 
farms, well cultivated and productive. 
There is 1 tide-mill, but no other water- 
works in this Town. Near the centre, is 
a small village of the same name, 6 3-4 
miles from Brooklyn ferry, where is a 
Dutch Reformed Church, and about 20 
houses. In 1810, the taxable personal 
property amounted to 14,039 dollars, and 
the aggregate of real and personal, to 
194,287 dollars. The whole population 
was 317, and there were 55 electors. 
For the early history, see Brooklyn and 
Giavesend. J.CV. 

Floreiv'ck, a Township of Oneida Coun- 
ty, 17 miles N. W. of Home, erected in 
1805, from the N. part of Camden; 
bounded northerly by Redfield and I-ew- 
is County, easterly by Lee, soutlierlv by I 
Camden, westerly by Williamstown. 
This Town comprises 2 Townships, 1 
Florence and Solingen, onthe Maps ol 
the Surveyor-General, and that part of 
Fulda lying W. of Fish (Jreek, being 15 
miles long, nearly E. and W. and 5 wide. 
Its waters are numerous branches of 
Fish Creek, spreading over tlie .W part, 
and the main stream on the cast. The 
land is good, and the surface but mode- 
rately uneven or quite level ; the timber 
deciduous, intermixed witli evergreen, 



and a heavy growth. It has the Black 
River turnpike running several miles 
across the W. part. This road leads 
from Rome to Brownville, near the 
mouth of Black River. The settlements 
are but new, and the whole poixilation 
in 1810, was 396, with 62 senatorial elect- 
ors. 

NT. 
Floiuda, a Post-Township in the S.E. 
corner of Montgomery County, on the S. 
shore of Mohawk river, 11 miles S.E. 
of Johnstoivn, and 35 miles N. W. of Al- 
bany ; bounded N. by the Mohawk or the 
Town of Amsterdam, S. easterly by Sche- 
nectady County, W. by Schoharie creek 
or the Town of Charleston ; being in the 
form of an irregular triangle. The soil 
is principally a strong loam, resting on 
a stifPclay, and remarkably fine for wheat, 
of which it has prodiiced great and sure 
crops in constant sticcession for about 
60 years. The surface is but moderately 
uneven, and there are no waste or barren 
lands ; the whole being divided into 
small farms, very few of which exceed 
200 acres. The lands are held by right 
of soil, and well cultivated. Besides 
the Mohawk, and the Schoharie Creek, 
on which its longest sides are bounded, 
the Chiictenunda, afine mill-stream from 
Duanesburgh, runs centrally across it to 
the Mohawk, supplying, in its course in 
this Town, 11 mills. There are five 
churclies or meeting-houses in this Town, 
1 of which is of stone, for Episcopalians, 
built by Queen Anne, of England. This 
is situated near the mouth of Schoharie 
creek. There are 12 school-hoxises, and 
a library of 600 volumes. In 1810, the 
population was 2777, senatorial elect- 



ors 290, taxable inhabitants 390, and the 
whole amount of taxable property 321,348 
dollars. The first white inhabitants 
were some Dutch fiimilies from Sche- 
nectady, who settled on the Mohawk 
fiats; soon after, or about 1750, 6 fami- 
lies, from Germany, settled on the Scho- 
harie creek flats ; and Irish and Scotch fa- 
milies, encouraged by Sir Wm. Johnson, 
sjjread over the interior. At the close 
of the Revolutionary war, all the vacant 
lands were soon occupied by emigrants 
fr(;Ui the eastern states and New-Jersey. 

1 here are now in this Town, 8 grain- 
mills, 6 saw-mills, 2 cardingmachines, 

2 fulling-mills and an oil-mill. In this 
Town was the first residence of Sir \Vm. 
.lohnson, ou his arrival from Ireland, and 
here too, on both sides of Schoha'-ie 
creek, M'as the principal Town, or Castl- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK, 



189 



of the Mohawk Indians, so long- swayed 
by Iiis cunning and counsels. And near 
.Johiison-Hall, at the mouth of Schoharie 
creek, in this Town, are also the ruins 
of Fort Hunter, of considerable import- 
ance in the history of the early wars. 
J.G.&S.R. 
FLrsHiKG, a Township of Queens 
County, on the N. side of Long-Island, 
15 miles E. of New- York, and 175 miles 
from Albany ; bounded W. by east river, 
E. by N. Hempstead, S. by Hempstead 
ind Jamaica, W. by Newtown. Little 
iNeck bay, in the E. and 'N. E., and Flush- 
ing bay in the N. W. supply harbors for 
shipping ; and Whitestone and Law- 
rence Neck form the headlands between 
these two bays. This Town extends less 
tiian half way across the island, and af- 
fords but little to demand minute detail. 
Flushing Village has considerable trade^ 
and its harbor is at the head of the bay 
of the same name. The land of Flushing 
is of various kinds and qualities, and the 
farms are under good cultivation. Tide- 
mills are very numerous along this sliore, 
and they employ a great am.ount of ca- 
pital, with a considerable number of 
persons, in the manufacture of flour and 
mejil. The usual tides are from 6 feet 
to 7 feet 4 inches. In 1810, the whole 
population of this Town \v as 2730, when 
there were 136 senatorial electors. In 
tills Town are still remaining 2 white 
oaks, which, with others, long since de- 
stroyed, formed a shade under which 
George FoJc held a religious meeting in 
tlie year 1672. It is well known "that 
George Fox was the founder of the sect 
of Friends or Quakers, and that they 
erect no monuments to perpetuate re- 
membrance. The Quaker?, therefore, 
regard these trees with lively interest, 
and see in tliem all that monuments 
Eould teach, however splendid or costly. 
See Oyster Bat also. N.T.,S.L.M. 

Flotd, a small but fertile Township 
of Oneida County, about 10 miles N. of 
Utica, and 6 E. of Rome. Its form is 
Jiearly triangular ; bounded N. by West- 
ern and Steuben, E. by Trenton and Deer- 
field, S. by the Mohawk river, W. by 
Rome. Its greatest length, 10 miles, and 
the superficies about equal to 5 miles 
square. The surface and soil, various, 
though neither hilly nor barran lands are 
found. Along the river, th^' alluvial 
flats ".ire extensive and ahundanlly rich. 
Adjoining these, a kccoiuI bottom rises 
to a moderate heiglit above ihe river 
flats, and extends about 1 1-4 raile, very 
Ijfvel; the soil, a mixture of loum and 



sand^ or gravel, a fine medium soil for 
grain or grass, and never inundated by 
the Mohawk. From this plain, the north- 
ern part is mostly a clayey marie, better 
adapted for grass than grain. This 
Town was incorporated in 1797, and now 
contains, 1810, 127 senatorial electorsj 
and about 200 taxable inhabitants : the 
whole population 970. Nine Mile creek, 
a small mill-stream, rises in this Town, 
and affords good mill-seats, on which are 
now erected a grist and saw-mill, and a 
carding-machine. Irort-ore is found, but 
not yet wrought. D.C. 

Foiit-Anne, a Post-ToAvn::hip of Wash- 
ington County, 60 to 70 miles from Al- 
bany, 10 N. of Sandy-Hill, and 11 S. of 
Whitehall ; bounded N. by Putnam, E. 
by Whitehall and Granville, S. by Hart- 
ford and Kingsbury, W. by Caldwell. 
This Tov/n received its present name in 
1808, having before been called West- 
fieldi It includes the Artillery Patent, 
lying between ^Vl}itehall and Hartford, 
and the N. W. corner extends to Lake 
George. Wood Creek runs across it to 
the N., and a branch of this spreads over 
the S. W. part. I'lie Village of Fort-Aime, 
which gives its name to the Town, is ou 
Wood creek, near the S. line, and con- 
tains about 40 houses. Here is the 
I'ost-Ofilcc, on the main road from Sandy- 
Hill to the head of Lake Champlain ; 
and here was once the militaiy post of 
Fort- Anne, a place of very considerable 
importance in the early colonial wars% 
The .surface of this Town lias a vast va- 
riety of hill and dale, of barren rocks, 
with swamps, tracts of clay, of alluvion, 
and of rich mold. Its population, how- 
ever, in 1810, was 3,100 with 198 sena> 
torial electors. Along Wood creek are 
fine tracts of alluvion, and a considerable 
extent of level lands, under good culti- 
vation ; and much of the uplands are ara- 
ble and productive. I.S. 

FnASKFORT, a Township of Herkimer 
County, lying along the S. side of the 
Moliawk river, having Germait Flats 
on the E., Litchfield on the S., Whites- 
town, in the Co. of Oneida on the W., 
and the Mohawk river on the N., whicli 
separates it from the Towns of Ileiki- 
mer and Schuyler. A large part of this 
Town is very broken and thinly inhabit- 
ed; but along the Mohawk, the inter^ 
vales are pretty extensive, and of good 
quality, producing excellent crops of 
grain, grass, &c. The settlements have 
never propTessed very rapidly, and the 
Town Is supposed to contain about 1500 
nihabi'ants. Tliere are ro public .b-nld- 



190 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



infjs, except school-hoviseb, which are 
erected in every district. A small mill- 
stream affords good mill-seats, and there 
are several saw-mills, grist-mills, a full- 
ing-mill, and a distillerv- Almost every 
family manufacture their own clothing, 
and the inhabitants are, at present, 
pretty industrious and thriving. Popu- 
lation in 1810, 1314 ; senatorial electors, 
111; number of families 220. The a- 
inount of taxable property^ 121,467 dol- 
lars. ^'•"• 

Fhanklin, aPost-Township of Delaware 
County, on the Susquehanna river, hav- 
ing the Susquehanna on tiie N,, Sidney 
on the W., Walton and Delhi on the S., 
Meredith and Kortright on the E. The 
surface is mostly uneven and some part 
mountainous, but along the Susquehan- 
na are targe tracts of excellent inter- 
vale, and also along th€ Ouleout creek, 
which runs through this Town. The 
woods are principally beech and maple, 
with som-e oak, chesnut and pine. This 
Town is well watered, and rei)uted 
healthy. The number of inhabitants com- 
puted in 1809, at 1750, and the num- 
ber of families, 250. There are 2 meet- 
ing-houses, and 8 school-houses ; 2 grist- 
mills, 1 fulling-mill, and a carding-ma- 
chine. The soil is mostly a strong red- 
dish loam, and yields good crops of 
the common agricultural products of the 
country- A suftleiency of clothing is 
manufactured, in the household way, for 
the consumptidn of the inhabitants. The 
first settlement of Franklin, was in 1785. 
Population in 1810, 1708, with 261 
electors. T..M.C.&E.O. 

Fkf.dehtck, a comparatively small 
Towixship, in the S. part of Dutchess 
Comity, 20 miles S. E. from Ponghkeep- 
sie. It is. bounded on the N. by Fislikill, 
E. by Patterson, S. by Carmel, W. by 
Piiilips, and is about 6 miles square. 
The suvfice is much broken by high hills 
and mount>ains,.but the intermediate val- 
lies are of some extent, and the soil good 
and productive. It abounds with oak, 
chesnut, &lc., and is well watered and 
healthy. It has 1 meeting-house, be- 
longing to tlie Baptists. There are 3 or 
4 small natural ponds,, the largest called 
White Pond, is about 1 1-2 mile long, 
and 3-4 wide. The water is good, on 
clear gravelly bottoms, and thoy pro- 
duce a variety of pan-fish. A branch 
of Croton river rises in Frederick, runs 
southerly into Carmel, and afibrds many 
excellent mill-scats, 'lliere are 6 grain- 
mills, 2 fulling-mills and a carding-ma- 
rhine, 3 forges, several saw-mills, and 



trip-hammers for making grass-scythes, 
&c. The domestic stock has 1339 sheep, 
1584 cattle, 397 horses. There are 95 
looms in families, which produce about 
20,000 yards of cloth annually for com- 
mon clothing. In 18l6, the whole popu- 
lation was 1811, with 98 electors, and 
the property assessed, 97,641 dollars. 

R.B. 

Fat.i, Cheek, a good mill-stream that 
runs through Locke, Dryden, and a part 
of Ulysses to the head of Cayuga lake. 
Its whole course may be 25 miles, and it 
meets Six-mile, and the Cayuga or main- 
inlet, just before entering tlie lake. 

Falltown, see Gates. 

Federal Stoke, see Chathax. 

Fike-PlaceP. O.jand Fokge P. O., see 

BnoOKHAVEV. 

Fish CnEEK,a northern branch of Wood 
creek, of Oneida Lake, rises in Lewis 
County, and runs S. about 43 miles, and 
enters Wood Creek, iii Bengal, about 2 
miles from its mouih. 

B.W. 

Fisheh's IsLAirr, see Southold. 

FisHKiLL Creek, is a small stream 
that rises in Beekman, Dutchess County,, 
and runs S. W. to the Hudson at Fish- 
kill, just N. of the Highlands. 

Florida Village, and P. O., sec U'ab.- 

WICK. 

Fonda's Eusn, see Broadalbix. 

Fort Edward, a pleasant Post-Vil.- 
lage, near the N. W. corner of Argyle, 
Washington County, on tlie E. bank of 
ths Fiudson, 50 miles N. of Albany, and 
2 miles S. of Sandy -Hill Fvillage. This 
jolace was called the Landing, or the 
Caryjjing-l)la<:e, during the French war, 
and takes its name fiom the Fort built 
here by Generals Lyman and Johnson in 
175,5. The Fort is now entirely demo- 
lished, and only presents large mounds 
and banks of earth. This is the grand 
depot of lumber, intended for rafting 
down tlie river, and the trade has pro- 
duced a Village of about 20 houses, 4 
stores, &c. 

Fort-Milleu a pleasant Post-Villagp 
in Argyle, Washing't'on County, on the 
E. bank of the ITudson. See also North- 
umberland, where was the original fort 
of this name. 

Fort Staswix, and Fort ScnrxLER, 
see Rome. 

Fox Cheek, or Foxes Creek, rises ia 
Berne, Albany County, and runs W. and 
N. W. about 17 miles, to Schoharie 
Creek, in the Town and County of Scht;.- 
harie. 

Fbancisville, see Plt-mocth. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOBK. 



191 



Franklin County, see page 76. 

FREEHoin, see Gheenetille. 

French Mills, Village and Post-Of- 
■fice, see Constable. 

Friends' or Quaker*' Boahding- 
ScHOOL, see WASuiNGTOjr, 



G. 

GALLATL\\ a large Township in 
V.ie S. E. corner of Columbia County, 19 
miles S. E. of Hudson, bounded N. by 
tiranger, E. by the State of Massachu- 
setts, and the Oblong, attached to tlie 
Town of Northeast in Dutchess County, 
S. by Dutchess County, \V. by Livings- 
ton. It is 13 mile? long- E. and W., and 
about 7 miles wide, and is one of the 
Townships of Livingston's Manor, 
which see. Ancram, or Roeleff Jansen's 
creek, winds through from near the N. 
E. to the S. W. corner, having crossed 
for a short distance into Dutchess Co., 
and it supplies fine sites for mills and 
every description of water works. The 
soil is good for farming, in general, 
t4iough of various qualities, and the sur- 
face considerably diversified. A large 
portion of the soil is a warm shistic gra- 
vel, timbered with oak, walnut, 8ic., and 
it is capable of being rendered un excel- 
lent farming country. The lands are 
held by leases, of various duration, but 
principally for a single life, and its agri- 
c«ltui'e indicates the tenure of title. 
There are 70 looms in families, which 
produced in 1810, 15,170 yards of cloth, 
with the aid of 1 fulling-mill and some 
carding.machines. Tlie Ancram Iron 
•u'orks in this Town are very extensive, 
and the iron has a high celebrity. A- 
bout 20,090 dollars of castings arc an- 
nually made, principally from the ore of 
Salisbury in Connecticut, which has a 
far extended reputation. The refined 
bar-iron, produced from the pigs of this 
ore, is eq^al to any in America, and the 
.incram -works send great quantities of 
it to market. There are also other 
works, but I am not informed of their 
numbers. In 1810, the whole population 
v/as 2471, including 26 slaves, and there 
are also 307 electors. Charlotte pond, 
in the N. W., is a handsome collection 
of water, wliich discharges Dove creek, 
a small mill-stream \V. into Ancram 
creek. N.T.,GG. 

Gal WAT, a Post-Township of Saratoga 
County, 8 miles N. W. of BaUslon, and 
ol from Albany , bounded N, by Provi- 



dence, E. by Milton, S. by Charlton, W. 
by Montgomery County. Its extent E. 
and W., 7 1-2 miles, N. and S., 6. In 
1810, its whole population was 2705, 
with 282 senatorial electors. The sur- 
face is but gently undulated, the soil 
principally a sandy loam, and very pi"o- 
ductive. This Town is well settled, 
and its roads are numerous and good, 
being laid principally on right lines that 
bound surveys, similar to those of Mil- 
ton and Callston. As a farming Town- 
ship, Galway is called the best in the 
County of Saratoga ; and it has very lit- 
tle waste land. The forest trees are 
princiiially deciduous, such as beech, 
maple, ash, elm, &c., with some oak, 
and a little pine. The stones are calca- 
reous, but variously intermixed with 
flint or silicioijs stones. There are se- 
veral small streams that supply mill- 
seats. Glovvcgee creek spreads over the 
central part, and runs E. to Kj'adeross 
creek in Milton ; and Chuctenunda cross- 
es the N. W. corner, from Providence to 
Amsterdam in Montgomery County, 
where it enters the Mohawk. 

N.T.,J.S. 
Gates, a Township in the N.E. corner 
of Genesee County, 33 miles N.E. of Bn- 
tavia ; bounded N. by Lake Ontario, E. 
by Genesee river or the County of Onta- 
rio, S. by Riga, \V. by Parma. It ex- 
tends 8 miles along the Genesee river,' 
and nearly 9 along Lake Ontario, having 
Braddock's bay in the N. W. corner. — 
The lower falls of Genesee river are be- 
tween this Town and Boyle In Ontario 
County. They are about 1 mile apart, 
and 5 or 6 miles from ths Lake, where 
the whole waters of the Genesee fall 96 
and 75 feet. The northern ledge of 
free-stone and slate that pervades Ge- 
nesee and Niagara Counties, forms these 
falls, and ci-osses the Niagara river at 
Lew is ton, where must have been, at some 
remote period, the falls of Niagara. At 
the mouth of tlie Genesee is the flourish- 
ing little Village of Chotvlotte, which has 
a considerable and rapidly increasing 
trade. Here is a Collector of the Cus- 
toms, and the place is designated as 
Port Genesee, a broader appellation that 
embraces both sides of the river. At the . 
Falls above mentioned, is a little settle- 
ment called FalltoTJii. Above these falls, 
the Genesee is boatable near HO miles. 
Here commences the Jlidgc Road, that 
extends to Lewiston, a distance of T& 
miles, and on a natural ridge that de- 
mands attention as a most rare and stu- 
p^ndou" work of nature. See Uiuse 



192 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



lioAD, or Alluvial Way. The population I 
of this Town in 1810, was 462, with 18 
electors ; the taxable property as as- 
sessed that year;, amounted to 50,700 
dollars. This Town was formerly call- 
ed Northampton, and received its pre- 
sent name in 1812, by express act of the 
Legislature. 

R.S.&C.H. 
Geneseo, a Post-Township of Ontario 
County, 20 miles S. of W. from Canan- 
daigua, and 228 from Albany ; bounded 
N. by Avon, E. by Livonia, S. by Sparta, 
W. by Genesee river and County ; being 
Township No. 9 in the 7th Range, with 
an area of 36 square miles. On the E., 
it extends to Canesus Lake, and its out- 
let runs across the N. E. cornei", and 
through Avon to Genesee river. On this 
are many excellent mill-seats and mills. 
The surface has neither hills or moun- 
tains, but is agreeably undulated with 
jrentle swells and vallies. The alluvial 
flats along the Genesee river are very 
extensive, rich, and fertile. About 1200 
acres, situated in a bend of the river, is 
usually called Bigtree, or the Bigtree 
bend tract, from an Indian chief of the 
name of Bigtree, who, with his Utile 
tribe, cultivated the flats in this bend 
when first settled by the English in 
1790. Here are now Wadsworth's Farms, 
on one of which are near 3000 choice 
sheep. And these flats are very produc- 
tive of hemp, first raised here in 1801, 
and now extensively cultivated in this 
County. Geneseo has 1 meeting-house 
and 6 school-houses. The inhabitants 
are emigrants from the Eastern States, 
practical farmers, frugal, industrious, 
and as free as independent. The hous- 
hold manufactures in 1810, produced 
i^l,''73 yards of cloth. In Fall brook is 
a cascade of near 100 feet almost per- 
pendicular. This Town was first settled 
in the summer of 1790, by 'William and 
James Wadsworth, principal proprie- 
tors, who came from the State of Con- 
necticut. In 1810, the population was 
894, with 203 senatorial electors, and 
148 families. 

J.W.,&{.C.S. 
Gesoa, (formerly Milton, named al- 
tered in 1808,) a Post-Township of Cay- 
uga County, on the E. shore of Cayuga 
Lake, 20 to 30 miles southerly of Cayu- 
ga Bridge, (now Ferry,) 25 3. o£ Auburn, 
and 180 W. of Albany ; bounded N. by 
Scipio, E. by Locke and Dryden, S. by 
I%sses in Seneca County, W. by the 
Cayuga Lake. It i.s 17 miles long on the 
Lake shove, ar.d ccntains ICO iot.'j of 1 



mile square. The surface is but gently 
uneven, the soil remarkably fertile in 
crops of wheat, maize, rye, flax, grass, 
&c. The timber, oak, white-pine, ma- 
ple, beech, field or red mulberry, the cu- 
cumber-tree, a species of tiie magnolia, 
the M. acuminata, the fruit of which is 
about 3 inches long, a warm and pungent 
bitter, infused in spirits, much used in 
rheumatism. The settlers in the S. part 
of this Town, are principally from Penn- 
sylvania and New-Jersey ; those in the 
N. part, from New-England. Salmon 
creek runs thi'ough this Town, into the; 
Cayuga, a fine stream for mills, and on 
which are erected the most of those in 
Genoa. There are about 1100 taxable 
inhabitants, 6 companies of militia, I 
rifle company, and 1 of cavalry. Two 
Presbyterian meeting-houses, 2 Metho- 
dists', 1 German Lutheran, a considera- 
ble number of Baptists, and a few Qua- 
kers. There are 18 school-houses, 10 
grist-mills, 11 saw-mills, 3 fulling-mills, 
3 cardiug-machines, and 16 distilleries 
of grain spirits, several tanneries, and a 
very competent number of useful me- 
chanics in different branches. The tra- 
veller is delighted with the active in- 
dustry of this country in general, and al- 
most every family CiU-ries on the neces- 
sary houshold manufactures. There is 
a small central village of 10 or 12 dwell- 
ings, with a Presbyterian meeting-house; 
Sic, called Peter-Town, or Genoa. Ge- 
noa, and Kings fer^'y Po&t-Officea, are in 
this Town, the latter 9 miles N- W. of 
Genoa p.c-About 1 mile from the mouth 
of Salmon creek is a fall where the chasm 
exhibits a fine sample of the geological 
structure of this country. Population 
in 1810, 5425, 413 senatorial electorsj 
and 827 families ; taxable pi'operty 208,- 
377 dollars. 

A.M.&D.T. 
Gehmax, a Post-Township of Chenan- 
g'o County, 15 miles N. W. of J\''or-u>ich, 
and 115 W. of Albany; bounded N. by 
Madison County, E. by Smyrna, Pharsa- 
lia and Preston ; S. by Pharsalia and 
Greene, W. by Solon and Cincinnatus in 
Cortlandt County. It is about 18 miles 
in length N. .ind S., and 4 to 10 1-2 wide ; 
comprising No. 7 of the 20 Townships, 
and Brakel, DeRuyler and the S, end of 
Tromp, as designated on the Maps of 
the Surveyor-General. It was erected 
in 1806, and named in hpnor of General 
Obadiah' German: its area 135 square 
miles. Otselick creek runs centrally 
across No. T, and thence S. W. across 
' the western p'lrt jplo Cortlandt County^ 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



193 



supplinsj^ abundance of fine mill-seats. 
A branch of this runs S. along the ^V. 
line, which also has mill-seats, and the 
whole is well watered. There are some 
large hills, and the surface is considera- 
bly broken throughout, but tlie vallies 
have a rich soil of mold, and the hilly 
lands, more moist and some stony, are 
good for grass. Along the streams, tlie 
lands are very rich. A mineral spring, 
probably a sulphuret, is considerably 
used, and found useful in cutaneous af- 
fections. There is 1 small Baptist meet- 
ing-house, and 7 or 8 school-houses. — 
In 1810, the whole population was 1519, 
with 201 electors, 340 taxable inhabi- 
tants, and 162,188 dollars of taxable pro- 
perty. There are 3 grain-mills, 3 or 4 
saw-mills, a fulling-mill and carding-ma- 
chine. German has 2 turnpike vonds 
leading E. and W., and one from Oxford 
to Onondaga. 

E.W. St J X. 
GERWANTOW^r, a '^mall Township of 
Columbia County, on the E bank of the 
Hudson, 12 miles S. of the City of Ifi/rl- 
son ; bounded on the N, E,, and S., by 
the Town of Clermont, W. by the Hiul- 
son. It extends about 2 miles along llic 
river, and has a medial extent E. and W. 
of 2 1-2 miles ; and contains 6000 acres. 
The surface is but gently undulated, and 
the soil is good for grass and for the 
common products of this country, and 
•well cultivated. There are verj' few 
streams of water, and the Town lias but 
one mill, which is in the E. part on the 
outlet of a small pond, 'i'he inhabitants 
are principally tlie descendants of the 
early German families who settled here 
in 1710. They are still characterised bv 
the steady habits of tljeir ,* '.ice's tors, and 
Jhey own the soil which they cultivate 
and with much care. Ey a timely econ- 
omy of forest trees, the lands in this 
Town are remarably well ."supplied with 
limber, and no Town on t!ie tide-waters 
of the Hudson has groves of equal value. 
In 1810, the populati m was 690, in- 
cluding 26 slaves, the riCnatorial electors 
82, and number of families is computed 
at 100. There are 33 looms in families, 
and the clothing is almost exclusively 
manufactured in the houshold-way. — 
There are 2 meeting-houses or church- 
.es, 0!ie for Lutherans, and one for Pres- 
byterians ; and 3 school-houses. There 
are 3 docks and store-houses on the 
Hudson, but they are little used at pre- 
cent ; but it has an excellent fishery on 
the Hudson, which is much used. The 
soji is vsiious^ and tracts of clay, sand 



and loam, afford a great variety of pro- 
ducts, and Germantown is noted for the 
abundance and excellence of its fruit. 
Its agriculture is respectable and rapid" 
ly improving. The early history of thq 
settlements in this Town, with the ori- 
gin of the tenure by which its lands arc.', 
held, are noticed under Clehmont. Li 
June, 1710, 70 families of poor Palatine 
soldiers, who had served in the army of 
Queen Anne, by whom they were hired 
of the Elector of the Palatinate, arrived 
at 'New- York, th.e most of which soon re- 
moved to these lands, then included in 
Livingston's INIar.or. And in 1735, ac- 
cording to an arrangement of King' 
George 1., with the then Proprietor, 
Letters Patent were granted to certain 
persons belonging to the Settlement of 
East-Camp, as it was then called, as 
trust.>es for the whole, conveying the 
right of soil in perpetuity for the use of 
the said inhabitants. And the grant 
seems to have been well devised, with 
the whole conditions on which it was 
made. Forty acres were directed to be 
appropriated to the use of a church, and 
the nialiilenance of a school, and the re- 
sidue to be equally divided among the 
inhabitants, which was faithfully per- 
formed by the Trustees. And this little 
Colony received mar.y marts of the kind- 
ness, care and beneHcence of Queen 
Aune, imder whose special patronage it 
was fiiTit planted- Tlie country was tbeu 
wholly wild, and tlie first encampments 
were distinguished by local iKtmes. 
Hence came East-Camp, a more general 
name of the 3 little lodges in this Town -, 
arid (Vest-Camj), the name of a similar 
settlement on tlie opposite side of the 
river, now in Ulster County. The set- 
tlements first commenced by 3 small 
lodges of temporary huts, each of which, 
was placed under the supcrintendance 
of some principal man, from whom they 
took their names, v/ith the addition of 
(iovf, a German word for village. Hence 
Weiser's dorf, Kneiskern's dorf, names 
now disused except by a very few of the 
ancient Germans. 

A.,C , & F.R. 
Gf.iimajt Flats, a Post-Township on 
the S. shore of the Mohawk, in Herkimer 
County, 5 miles S. of Herkimer, and 75 
miles fi'om Albany ; bounded N. by the 
Mohawk, or by Herkimer, E. by Minden 
in Montgomeiy County, S. by Warren, 
W. by Franlifort. The extensive allu- 
vial flats in this Town, as v/cll as those 
in Herkimer, were settled at an early 
period by German families, and have 



194 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



now been known as the German Flats, 
about 80 or 89 years, from which tlie 
Town has its name. The soil of these 
flats is remarkably rich, nor is its fer- 
tility hardly diminished by German hus- 
bandry throuj'h sucli a long- series of 
years. The uplands are rich and pro- 
ductive, and the whole is under cultiva- 
tion. A canal iias been cut around the 
Wolfllift in the Moliawk, which is 5 
miles above the Little Falls. This canal 
is I4 mile in length, and affords sites 
for water-works, and there are 2 small 
mill-streams. There are 7 prain-niills, se- 
veral saw-mills, some carding-machines, 
and a distillery lately erected. There 
is one meeting-house, which has been 
built about 63 years, and a number of 
school-houses. The inhabitants, in corn- 
man with those of t[ie adjoining Towns, 
suffered much in the early wars and in 
that of the Revolution ; and here was 
Fort Herkimer. In 1756, after the sur- 
render of Oswego, the French over-ran 
this county ; and in 1757, after the sur- 
render of Fort William Henry, the set- 
tlements at the German flats were laid 
desolate by fire and swoixl. — In 1810, 
German Flats had 371 families, 207 se- 
natorial electors, and the whole popula- 
tion was 2228, 17 of which are slaves. 
The taxable property, ^221,407. 

R.D.&.J.C.P.E. 
Goshen, a Post-Township, and half- 
shire Town of Orange County^ 20 miles 
W. of the Hudson at WestlPoint, 112 
miles southerly from Albany, and about 
63 N. of New- York ; bounded N. by 
Walkill, E. by Blooming-Grove, S. by 
Warwick, W. by Minislnk, or by Wall- 
kill Creek. Tiiis Town retains many 
local names for dilTorcntjiarts, originally 
small setllementu so distinguished. — 
Goshen Village is a site of the County 
buildings, and contains 50 houses, being 
incorporated as a village. Cliestei- Vil- 
iciffc, ill the S. Pi. corner, lias a Post-Office 
oi' the same name, and about 20 houses, 
it is situated about 4 1-2 miles S. E. of 
Goshen Y., and 115 miles from Albany. 
And there are some others of less note. 
The whole population of this Town in 
1810, was 3,155, when there were 281 
electors. It is a good Township of land, 
xind affords a great variety of soil and 
agricultural products. The ix)ads are 
very numerous. In the S. AV., along the 
Wallkill creek, is a large tract of the j 
Bhow-nt-d Lan-ds, which see. These i 
lands, when sufficiently drained, disclose ! 
a deep rich soil of vegetable mold, ; 
ivhich is peculiarly vrel'l adapted io- \ 



hemp, a plant that requires a very rich 
and peculiar soil. Otter creek, a fine 
branch of Murderers* Creek, rises in 
this Town, and affords mill-seats. The 
Courts for Orange County are held al- 
ternately at Goshen and New-Burgh. 

U.'hH. 

GocvEiixErH, a Township of St. Law- 
rence County, Cambray, on the Surveyor- 
General's Maps ; erected in 1810 : bound- 
ed on the N. W. and S. W. by Hague and 
Somei-ville, attached to Oswegatchie; N. 
E. by Ue Kalb, S. E. by Kilkenny, attach- 
ed to Russell ; being 10 miles square. 
This was one of the orig-inal ten Town- 
ships, ptn-chased of the State in 1786, 
and but very recently settled. It was 
named in honor of Gouverneur Morris, 
Esq. and has a P-ost-OJjice, at present 
called Canibray, 586 mdes from Wash- 
ington ; 20 miles S of Ogdensburgh, 
and 192 N. W- from Albany. It has 223 
inhabitants, and about 30 senatorial 
electors. The Oswegatchie river enters 
it centrally on the S. E. line, runs across 
the S. W. corner, and passes tlirougli 
the angle of Somerville into Jefferson 
Co. ; whence returning, runs centrally 
across the Town from S. AV. to N. E., 
having much first ra^e intervale land on 
its borders. The inhabitants have desig- 
nated the site of a village, which they 
call Morristo-ien, or JMon'isville, but my 
Correspondents have neglected to g'ive 
any information of its position or pre- 
sent prospects. One of those ancient 
works, so common in the western coun- 
try, is found here, on the farm of a Cap- 
tain Washburn ; where many vestiges of 
Indian works, and their rude sculptural 
efforts remain, within an tynbankment 
enc'osing about 3 acres. M.K. 

GoRH.vM, a Township of Ontario Coun- 
ty, 6 miles E. of Cdinuuhiigua, and 200 
westward from Albany, on the great 
road to Niap;ara ; bounded N. by Farm- 
inglon, E. by Phelps and Seneca, S. by 
Middlesex, W. by Canandaigua. ft, is 
12 miles long, N. and S., and 6 wide ; 
comprising Nos. 9 and 10, in the second 
range of Townships. On the organiza- 
tion of this County in 1801, this tract 
was erected into a Town, and called 
Easton till 1806, when the name was 
changed to Lincoln, and in 1807 it re- 
ceived its present name. The land is of 
an excellent quality, with suitable pro- 
portions of meadow and plough-lands ; 
but the soil is better adapted for grass 
than most of the adjoining Towns. — 
Tliere is 1 meeting-house, and 14 school- 
houses. The surface is moderately u;:- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



195 



even, and well watered with springs 
and brooks. Canandaityua creek, the 
outlet of the lake of the same name, 
runs across the N. end, and affords ex- 
cellent mill-seats. At Chapiii's mias are 
a grain-mill with three ruimin^^ stones, an 
oil-mill, carding--machine and fulling- 
mill. This Town lies between the flou- 
rishing Villages of Canandaigua and Ge- 
neva, 10 miles W. of the latter. In 1310, 
the whole population was 2169, with 169 
senatorial electors, and 400 families. — 
The houshold manufactures of cloth 
amounted to 27,928 }ards in 1810, and 
my Correspondents speak of the spirit of 
improvcmcTit that prevails here, as in 
other opulent farming Towns in this 
County, with very just commendation. 
W.K.,J.C.S.&C. 
Graves35xd, a Township of Kings 
Coimtyon the S. side, and just at the W. 
end of Long-Island, 9 1-2 miles S. of the 
city of N.York ; bounded easterly by Flat- 
lands, S. by the Atlantic ocean, westerly 
by Utrecht. Its form is triangular, with 
its base on the ocean, and terminating* 
at a point at the N., on the S. line of 
Platbush. Coney-Island, the designed 
site of a light-house is at the W. end ol 
Schryer's Hook. The whole southern 
part is composed of salt-meadows, marsh- 
es, creeks and bays ; and near the sea- 
shore are a ridge of sand-hills. The 
soil, which was much exhausted by long 
and constant culture, has of late been 
much improved by the use of manures, 
and by a better plan of agriculture. — 
Leachcd-ashes, and street-dirt, from the 
^lopulous Towns, are much used^ and 
many sloop loads are purchased in Alba- 
ny, New-York, Piiiladelphiii and Balti- 
more, for this purpose. The lands are 
divided into farms of 40 to 200 acres, 
well cultivated and productive. Barley, 
maize and wheat are the principal pro- 
ducts for market, and of the two former 
kinds, 40,000 bushels are annually sold 
as the surplus pHnluct. This Town con- 
tains about 7000 acres, of which 500 may 
be wood-land, 3,500 acres arc under va- 
rious culture, in farms, and the remain- 
der in salt-meadows, marslies, Stc. The 
inhabitants are principally Dutch, who 
sjieak that language, and are remarkable 
for tiieir habits of industry and frugali- 
ty. The most of their common clothing 
is made in the houshold way. There is 
a very extensive fishery of shad, and 
abu«dance of clams and oysters, with 
water-fowl. The landings and iKirbor 
are safe for vessels of 40 to 60 tons. There 
y!'e 2 tideniilbj. A small v!l':i:'e ueiir 



the centre is known by the name of the 
Town, and has about 20 houses, with a. 
Dutcli Reformed Church and a school- 
house. Gravesend beach is superceding" 
Rockaway as a place of resort for the 
votaries of pleasure from New-Yoi-k. lu 
1810, the whole population was 520, 
with 76 electors ; taxable property, 178,- 
477 dollars. The Town of Gravesend 
has been known by its present name 
ever since its first settlement in 1645. 
Its first patentees were Englishmen, and 
the settlement was designed for a com- 
mercial position, regularly laid out in. 
streets and squares^, and palisadoed. 
S.H.8cJ.C.V. 
Grangeh, a Township of Columbia 
County, 12 or 13 miles S. E. of Jfudaony 
bounded N. by Claverack and Hillsdale. 
E. by the State of Massachusetts, S. by 
Gallatin, W. by Livingston- It is about 
12 miles long E. and W., and 6 miles wide, 
and is one of the Townships of Livikg- 
ston's IVIaxor, which see. Clavarack 
creek, with its small streams, waters a- 
bout -^Ihs of thisTown ; and Ancram creek, 
or Koeleif Jansen's, runs southerly across 
the E. end into Gallatin, receiving Tau- 
conic creek-just at the S. line. Thei'e 
are several small ponds, and the above 
supply abundance of mill-seats. The 
Tauconic hills, noticed under Moux- 
TAixs, p. 9, rise boldly on the E., but 
their summits are in the State of Ma.ssa- 
chusetts, while their western border oc- 
cupies the east of this Town. The basis 
of these hills or mountains is a hard gra- 
nite, and their summits assume a cha- 
racter peculiar to granitic- rocks. The 
lands are h*?ld by leases of various dura- 
tion, from the proprietor, and though the 
soil is considerably diversified, a large 
proportion is of a good quality for farm- 
ing, and much of it very excellent. Iron- 
ore, in great abiuldance, is found here, 
of an excellent quality, and extensively 
wrought. In 1810, t!ie whole population 
was 2614, including- o7 slaves, and there 
are 168 electors. There were also 80 
hronis in famiiies, which produced 33,326 
yards of cloth, with tiie aid of one full- 
ing-mill andonecarding-machine. There 
ar» also other mills, but I am not inform- 
ed of their numbers. Linlithgow, is an 
elegant countr3-scat, distinguished by 
this name, and was the residence of tln^ 
late H. W. Livingston, Esq. 

N.T.,orG.G.,8cA. 

Grafton-, a Township of Rensselaer 
County, eleven miles E. of Troy, erected 
in ISOr; bounded N. by Pitlstown, E- 



196 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK 



by Petersburgh, S. by Berlin and Green- 
bush, W. by Brunswick. In 1810, its 
population was 1410, with 134 senatorial 
electors. The taxable personal property, 
us assessed that year, amounted to 7399 
dollars, and the aggreiyate of real and per- 
sonal was 70,978 dollars. Quacken-kill, 
of Poesten-kill, or creek, rises here in 
veveral small streams ; and some small 
branches also of Tomhanoc creek of 
Hoosac creek, which enters the Hudson 
at Schaghticoke Point. It is a Township 
of the Manor of Rensselaer, and the 
lands are held by lease from Stepnen 
Van Rensselaer, Esq., paying an annual 
rent of about ten bushels of wheat -for 
109 acres of farm land. Its surface is 
broken, and diversified with hills, plains 
and vallies, containing arable, meadow 
nnd pasture lands, and by an extensive 
range of pine-forest, called the green- 
woods, along its eastei'n border. See 
Berlin and Petersburgh,for more minute 
fletails of the kind and qualllv of these 
lands. B!s.,jSr.T. 

GiiAivTiHE, a Post-Township of Wash- 
ington County ; it has 2 Post-O.ffices, and 
ns situated about 60 miles N. easterly 
from Albany : bounded S. by Hebron, 
W. by Hartford and Fort-Anne, N. by 
Whitehall and Hampton, E. by Vermont. 
The soil is excellent, and the surface 
handsomely diversified, and well water- 
ed by springs, rivulets, &c. The S. 
westerly i)art is considerably broken by 
high hills, while the other is more in- 
clining to high plains ; but along Pawlet 
and Indian rivers, are extensive alluvial 
ilats of very great fertility. Pawlet ri- 
ver, a fine mill-strean), rises in Vermont, 
and meanders N. westwardly, through 
this Tov.-n and AVhitehall to Wood creek, 
nbout 1 1-2 mile above the village at 
Whitehall-Landing. Indian river, a 
small mill-stream, enters Pawlet river 
near the centre of the Town, and af- 
fords many excellent mill-seats. The 
population is computed at 3000 ; the 
taxable inhabitants were 456, in 1809 ; 
the real esiate, pr. tax list, ^346,375 — 
fiersonal, ^^56,678. There are 3 small 
villages, Granville, S. Granville, and Fair 
Vale, or N. Granville : 2 churches lor 
Congrcgationalists, 1 Baptist, 1 Qua- 
ker meeting-house, and a society of 
jMethodists ; one Academy of respecta- 
ble promise, and a competent number 
of common schools. The Northern turn- 
pike, from Lansingburgh to Wells in 
Vermont, lies through this Town. The 
i:ihabilants are well svip])lied with mills 
'Kv-.d ^va1cr n:;'.vhluin'V, us the- Town con- 



tains 6 corn-mills, 12 saw-mills, 4 full- 
ing mills, 5 carding-machines, 1 forge, 
several trip-hammers, 2 mills for sawing 
marble, which work 200 saws, and a set 
of Patent machinery on Indian river, de- 
serving public attention. This machin- 
ery is employed in the construction of 
carriages of every description ; — it saws 
the felloes, plains the spokes, turns, 
bores, and mortises the hubs, — all by 
water. The inventor is Jacob Coon. — 
There is also in this Town a manufac- 
tory of black-lead pencils, some samples 
of which, shewn me, are of a superior 
quality — in no respect inferior to the 
best imported. A marble quarry has 
been lately discovered in the N. part 
of this Town, which affords abundant 
supplies of variegated marble, and of 
a good quality ; — and common slate- 
stone and lime-stone are also found. A 
nursery of young trees and shrubs, se- 
lected with great care and taste by 
Judge Thorn, from various parts of the 
United States, Canada and Europe, af- 
fords many facilities to the farmers for 
propagating choice fruit, and is hardly 
equalled by any similar collection in this 
State. As is usual among the industri- 
ous yoemanry of this State, much is done 
hei'e by houshold manufactures, tovvard 
supplying the wants of the inhabitants, 
while domestic mechanics furnish the 
usual implements of husbandry and the 
arts, in convenient abundance. — Popida- 
tion, 3717, and 368 senatorial electors. 
S.T. & W^R. 
GREENSBTjncH, a Post-Township of 
W'est-Chester County, on the E. bank of 
the Hudson, 27 miles N. of New-York, 
135 S. of Albany, and 5 miles W. of 
White-Plains ; bounded N. by Mount- 
Pleasant, E. by White-Plains and Scars- 
dale, S. by Yonkers, W. by the Hudson. 
Saw-mill creek, or Saw-creek, runs S. in 
the W. part, Bronx creek along the E. 
line, and there are some branches also 
which supply mill-seats. There is a 
Landing on the Hudson and a small Vil- 
lage, called Tarnj-ToTJu, near the N. 
line of this Township, where Is very con- 
siderable business and trade with New- 
York, that employs several sloops. Tiie 
situation is very pleasant, and being op- 
posite Tappan baj', the Hudson at this 
place is near 3 miles wide. These Towns 
ofier very little for local detail, and I 
have no taste for wire-drawn descrip- 
tions. The stage-road from New-Y^oik 
to Albany, lies along the shore of the 
Hudson ; and the navigation of that no- 
ble river tdibrds an elegant display of 



(GAZteTTEER OF NEW-YOllKo 



I9t 



beauties, from its shore in this quarter. I 
The land is of various kinds and quali- [ 
ties, and the surface is agreeably diver- 
sified, in 1810, the whole population 
of this Town was 1862, when there were 
157 electors, 253 taxable inhabitants ; 
tind the taxable property was valued by 
the Assessors at g404,982 

A.O. & S.D. 
Gkeenbush, a Township of Rensselaer 
County, on the E. bank of the Hudson, 
6 miles S. of Troy, and directly opposite 
Albany ; bounded N. by Troy and Bruns- 
wick, E. by Berlin, S. by Schodac, W. 
by the Hudson or the County of Albany. 
It is about 8 miles square, and has a 
great diver.tity of soil and surface. A- 
long the river are some alluvial flats, 
and back of these rise the river hills, 
within a to 1 mile, till they gain a ge- 
neral elevation of 200 feet, and present 
sjome summits of 300 or 350 feet. And 
the general surface is broken, diversi- 
fied with hills, vallies, ridges and small 
marshes, till we approach the eastern 
border^ where are extensive ranges of 
more lofty hills with deep .vallies, and a 
soil of little value. Much of the upland 
soil is an aluminous marie or loam, with 
tracts of gravel, of clay, and of sand. 
Excepting the Hudson, its waters are 
Some very small streams that run a short 
Qourse to that river, and afford a scanty 
supply of mill-seats. This Township, 
wholly within the Manor of Rensselaer, 
is principally owned by the Proprietor 
of that Estate-; and the titles to lands 
are by leases of various tenures. In 
1810, the personal property assessed a- 
mounted to §52,085, and the aggregate 
of real and personal was §516,236, agrees 
able to tiie Supervisors* books. The 
%vhole population was 4458, including 
145 slaves ; and there were also 478 se- 
natorial electors. These facts would 
seem to indicate a prosperous and im- 
proving state of agriculture in tnis 
Town, for it has little of manufacturing, 
or otlier occupations than farming. A- 
long the Hudson are fine alluvial flats, 
commencing opposite Albany, and ex- 
tending S. for several miles. And on 
this flat, a mile square hus recently been 
purchased, and a Town laid out, which 
is called Greenbnsh, rapidly increasing 
in population. The site is very pleasant, 
and the shore good for docking. Here 
are now about 50 houses, including 
• storeSj taverns, &.C., and a considerable 
amount of trade. The turnpike from 
New-Lebanon here strikes the river, and 



travel, see Aieant, and the receipts at 
tlie ferry. At Bath, one mile above, is 
another small Village of about 35 houses, 
&c., with a ferry also. This Village is 
seated on a steep declivity of the rivers- 
hill, consisting of coarse gravel, and. 
has an elegant position. The E,asterf» 
turnpike extends from here to the E. 
line of the State, and on this road, at 
the distance of 10 mileis, is the Village 
of Sand-Lake- Here is a srtiall church, 
and about 20 houses, situatefl in a ro- 
mantic valley, one mile N. of Rensselaer 
Village in the Town of Berlin, the seat 
of extensive manufactories of glass. A 
small sulphuretted spring near Green- 
bush Landing, has attracted some no- 
tice ; and in consequence of supposed 
indications, considerable efforts have 
been made in searching for mineral coal, 
in the hills around this spting. Shafts 
liave been sunk, and the mineral auger 
has descended near 200 feet, but unfor- 
tunately without success, or any con- 
firmation of ii>dications. The rock here- 
about is a fragile shistus, interspersed 
with streaks of silicious stones in some 
places ; and in these fragments, for they 
constitute no regular strata, have been 
found galenas of pretty rich lead ores, 
though I have beard of but a few small 
samples. Geological disquisitions are 
foreign to the plan of this work, and 
brirf mineralogical notices are barely 
permitted. Under the article Mijjeral- 
OGT, p. 23, 1 have collected. the promi- 
nent features of the mineralogy of this 
State, and its geology is briefly noticed 
under Mountains. Coal, is a great de- 
sideratum in this region, as wood is ra- 
pidly increasing in value, and very little 
attention is bestowed on its cultivation, 
though much of the farm-lands now ly- 
ing waste, ought to be planted with fo- 
rest-trees. It is generally admitted that 
wood for fuel has risen in value for ten 
years past, as well in Albany^ fts in other 
populous Towns in this vicinity^ at least 
10 percent per annum ; and in Albany, for 
3 years past, some say 15, 20, or 25 per 
cent yearly : And hickory loadsj contain- 
mg about 3 of a cord, have been selling 
in Albany and Hudson for an average 
price of 3 to 4 dollars^ during a part of 
rach winter for several years past. M'^hy 
uill not the Farmers at least try an ex- 
periment I Wood-lands are now worth 
more than the same quality of land under 
.tolerable cultivation, including b'.iiid- 
'ings, fences and < v< n improvement, and 
yet little or no care is taken to replace 
fbr the intercourse and great extent of ) the cpnsumption. The geological struc- 



m 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORE. 



lure of this i-egion is unfavorable for 
coal. The whole country seems under- 
laid by clay, and I am warranted in tliis 
conjecture by numerous instances of 
personal inspection, where water-courses 
have penetrated to the greatest depths. 
Ledges of slate and lime-stone, embrac- 
ing' a very considerable variety, in some 
instances of combinations also with other 
stones, have been found ^o rest on a soft 
clay. And these facts, connected with 
many opportunities for observations on 
the geological structure of regions of 
Ibssil-coal, leave me but a faint hope of 
its existence in the region about Alba- 
ny. Mineral coal, Uthanihvnx, is of two 
kinds, and these include many varieties 
of quality, form and appearance. What 
I should denominate primitive coal, is 
that kind which appears to have had no 
vegetable origin, and which forms a large 
ponionofthe earth in some countries, 
as in Great -Britain, and also in the ex- 
teinsi7e region to tlie W. of the Apallu- 
ehian mountains in our own country. 
Coal is also formed from the carbon of 
decayed vegetables, and tliis fact is 
abundantly established by numerous ob- 
servations in various countries. And 
since I am so far advanced in a digres- 
sion, my readei-s will pardon me if I 
suggest a belief that coal of the latter 
kind may be found in the Highlands, 
near the Hudson ia this State, though 
probably only in small quantities. 

Since the above was written, the U- 
nited States has ptu'chased a farm in 
Greenbu^h, on the N. side of the New- 
Lebanon turnpike, a little moie tlian a 
mile from the ferry, and erected bar- 
racks for tlie accommodation of a larg-e 
army ; — report says, for 6000 men. They 
stand on the river-hill, nearly opposite 
Albany, and in full view, and with sta- 
bles and other buildings, form a large 
collection. Mount Madison wiil carry 
along the history of its own name. 

N.T.,B.S.,S.G. 
GjiEETEVfiLE, a Post-Township of 
Gptene Countv, 14 miles N. W. of A- 
thens, and 25'or 27 W. of S. from Alba- 
ny ; bounded N. by Albany County, E. 
by Nevv-Uallimore and Coxackie, south- 
erly by Cairo, W. by Durham. It is 
watered by s6me branches of Catskill 
creek. The surface is broken and iiilly, 
but 'lie soil is productive, and excellent 
for glazing. In 1810, the whole popu- 
latiwii was 2300 JncUiding- 17 slaves, and 
there are 224 electors. The taxable 
property amounted to §206,^21. It has 



some turnpikes, and numerous common 
roads. The inhabitants are principally 
iarmers, and their clothing is the pro- 
duct of the houshold wheel and loom. 
The dairy of this cotintry has a high re- 
putation, and its agriculture is very re- 
spectable and improving. There is a 
small Village called Freehold, from the 
Ibrmer name of the Town. It is 28 miles 
from Albany. The soil, surface and 
products of this Town are vejy similar 
to those of Durham, which see. 

N.T.^.P.&J.H. 

Greenfield, a Post- Township of Sa- 
ratoga County, 12 miles N. of JBallston, 
and abx)ut 36 from Albany ; bounded N. 
by Hadlcy, E. by Moreau and Northun)- 
berland, S. by Saratoga and Milton, W- 
by Providence. It is 9 miles long E. and 
W.J and about 7 miles wide ; and is well 
watered by several branches of Kyade- 
ross creek, which unite in the S. anjd 
run into Milton. The land may be call- 
ed stony and rough, thotigh good for 
pasture, and much of it good also for 
gi-ain. Tl)e soil of the arable lands is 
principally a gravelly loam, with some 
tracts of clay ; the foi'est woods beech, 
maple, elm, hendock, Sec, with some 
oak, chesnut, cheri-y and pine. The Ky= 
adeross mountains pervade this Town, 
ill many ridges of a pretty lofly eleva- 
tion, ranging from S. W. to N. E. ; and 
the vallies are numerous and deep, pre- 
senting a very great diversity of soil 
and suiface. The stones are of the si- 
licious kind. There are several tracts 
of marsh or swamp grounds of no pre- 
senl value, coveitd with alder and sedge- 
grass. The intnibitants are hardy ancf 
indtistrioiTs ; and the whole population 
in ISIO was 3087, when there were 314 
senatorial electors. The most of the 
cloth for common clothing is the pro- 
duct of the houshold wheel and loom. 
—The roads are numerous and pretty 
good. , A.C.B. 

Gnr.ENW-iccn, a Post-Township of Wasii- 
nigton County, about 27 miles N. of Al- 
bany, and 8 W. of Salem ,- bounded N. 
by Argyle, E. by Salem, S. by Battenkiil 
or Cambridge and Eastern, W. by the 
Hudson or the County of Saratoga. The 
Battenkill supplies fine sites for mills, 
and its threat falli have a descent of 6'J 
feet. The surface of this Town is mo- 
derately uneven, and bald hill rises 2CK) 
feet above the level of the circumjacent' 
plains, being- about 3 niilts in cuxum* 
icience. Tlic soli is principally a gra- 
velly Iflatn, with good proportions o? 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORIL 



199 



arable, meadow and grazing lands, un- 
der good cultivation. The inhabitants 
as'e making rapid advances in domestic 
economy, and their commton clothing is 
principally supplied by houshold indus- 
try. In 1810, the whole population was 
2752, with 210 electoi-s. There are in 
this Town 20 saw-mills, 6 grain-mills, 3 
fulling-mills, 3 carding-machines, and 
an extensive cotton factory. About 12,- 
000 bushels of lime are made annually, 
and there is a distillery which consumes, 
if not destroys, 30 bushels of rye per 
day. Union Villa!; e, on the Battenkill, 
5 miles E. of the Hudson, and 34 N. of 
Albany, is incorporated, and its legal 
limits comprise also a small tract on the 
S. side of Battenkill, being in the Town 
of Easton. Here are 2 extensive cot- 
ton factories, a woollen factorj', 4 or 5 
Hiills, a trip-hammer ; 48 dwellings and 
stores, 2 meeting-houses, and an Acad- 
emy now building ;-^thc whole popula- 
tion may be near 500. In these cotton 
factories, one of which is in Greenwich, 
and one in Easton, about 50,000 pounds 
of cotton wool are annually wrought 
into yarn, and a considerable portion of 
it into cloths of various kinds. They 
employ about 70 hands at the works; 
and from 100 to 150 families are con- 
stantly employed in weaving for these 
establishments. In one of these facto- 
tories there are 12 carding-machines, 
which supply 628 spindles that spin 
dail}' 1200 skeins of yarn. The works 
are well supplied with every conve- 
nience, and the place is rapidly inci-eus- 
ing in population. About 2 miles E. of 
here is another little village of 12 or 15 
houses, some mills, frc, called Uard- 
scrabblc or Franklin Village ; and Union 
Village was formerly called Whipple's 
City. 

A.F.,R.M.8«.S.G, 
Greene, a Post-Township in the S.W. 
Qorner of Chenango County, 20 miles S. 
W. of Norwich, and 120 nilles from Al- 
bany , bounded N. by German, E. by 
Smithville and Coyentry, S, by Broome 
County, W. by Broome and a small cor- 
ner of Cortlandt County. Its extent l!f. 
and S. is 14 miles, and it is well water- 
ed by Chenango river and some of its 
branches. Near the centre is the Villciife 
of Greene, where is the Post OlBce, and 
about 12 or 14 houses. Here is a hand- 
some bridge across the Chenango river, 
at the crossing of the Ulster and Cayu- 
ga turnpike, and a place of considerable 
business. The soil is good, warm and 
tfoductive. Alorg t!te strewis are fine 



groves of white pine, with oak, chesnutg 
and other trees of value for timber ; the 
hills are wooded with beech, maple, &c., 
and are very good for grass. Frui t trees 
succeed well, and the warm soil of 
the vallies and alluvial lands yield great 
crops of grain or grass. Mill-seats a- 
boucid, and indeed theie are few Towns 
in this region that are bett-er adapted 
for agricultural opulence. In 1810, the 
whole population was 1279, with 64 se- 
natorial electors ; — taxable property as 
valued by the Assessors, S118j9i,8. 

D.F.&E.C. 
GuiLDEHLAsritT, a Towmship of Albany 
County, 12 miles a little N. of W from 
Jjlbaiiij. Its form is strangely distorted, 
being 15 miles greatest length, and 
abopt 6 greatest bre^d^h : terminatirtg 
in the E. in an acute angle, and also in 
(he W. Bounded N. by Schenectady 
County, N. E. by the Charter bounds of 
Albany, an extent of 10 1-2 miles ; S. 
by BeUiichem, W by Bern ; — and its 
area may be 53 square miles. It is well 
watered by the Norman's kill and seve- 
ral branches, which supply mill-seats. 
The general character of the land is but 
indiflerent, and there is much of poor 
and barren sand, with tracts of marsltof 
little apparent value. There are also 
fine tracts cf sandy loam, and many pret- 
ty good farms. In 1810, the whole po- 
pulation was 2466, includlcg ,66 slaves ; 
and there were also 243 senatorial elec- 
tors. There are, in this Town, 3 grain- 
mills, 7 saw mills, a fuUing-miil and 
carding-macliine, besides an extensive 
manufactory of glags wliere are made near 
500,000 feet of window-glass in a year. 
Tliere are 100 looms in families, which 
make annually about 25,000 yards of 
cloth fcr conrunon clothing. The Cher-- 
ry-'i''alley turnpike leads through Guil- 
derlandt, and the other roads are too 
numerous to be good. The Village of 
Hamilton is pleasantly .situated on the 
above turnpike, -8 miles a little N. of 
W. from Albany, and contains 56 iiouses 
and stores, and 2 glass-houses for the 
manufacture of window-glass. The hou- 
ses are pxincipally small, occupied by 
the laborers einployed in the Hamiltou 
glass-works. The situation is in a val- 
ley, surrounded by pine plains, or by 
tracts of liglit sandy loam under indif- 
ferent cultivation, with the exception 
of 1 or 2 pleasant country seats. See 
Albany County, page 63, for a general 
description of the land, and this Town 
offers verv little for local detail. 

L.L.v.K.&j.y.y, 



200 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Galen, Post-Office, see Junius. 

Gardiner's Island, and Gardiner's 
Bat, see Easthampton. 

Garoga Creek, rises in Johnstown, 
Montgomery County, and runs S. W. a- 
bout 20 mile? to the Mohawk, and is a 
fine mill-stream. 

Garhatsville, P.O., see NEW-Lissbif. 

Gawanas, see ■•ooklyn. 

Genesee Cottntt, see p. 17 ; Greene 
County, see p. 78- 

Genesee River, rises in Pennsylvania, 
and runs N. across the western part of 
New-York to Lake Ontario. Its whole 
course in this state may be about 125 
miles, and thougli its general course is 
pretty direct, its small windings are 
very nuinerous. This stream waters as 
good a tract of land as any in the state, 
and its alluvial flats are proverbially ex- 
tensive and fertile. Within 5 miles of 
its mouth are falls of 96 and 75 feet, 
from which it is beatable near 70 miles, 
where are two other falls of 60 and 9U 
feet, in the N. end of Allegany County. 
Tlie lower falls are formed by the north- 
em ledge or terrace, which extends 
i"rom Lewiston on Niagara river ; and it 
will be seen that the descent of this 
stream nearly corresponds with that of 
Niagara ; this being 320 feet from the 
elevated plain country to Lake Ontario. 
Genesee, in the language of ihe Iro- 
quois, is a name for Pleasant- Valley, 
but I know not what was the original 
phrase. At tlie mouth of this river, on 
the W. side, is the Vdlage of Charlotte, 
and the harbor is named Pori Genesee. 

Geneva, a flourishing Post-Village of 
Seneca, Ontario County, is finely seated 
on the W. shore of Seneca Lake, and 
near its N. end, 16 miles E. of Canandai- 
gua, and 192 W. of Albany. Ii. is a 
place of extensive trade, and has 130 
houses and stores, 3 places of worship, 
4 public schools, a printing-office, and 
a great variety of mechanics and arti- 
sans- The iioil IS very excellent, and 
the adjacent coxmtry well cultivated. — 
The Lake is here near 3 miles wide, and 
SO deep that it very rarely freezes. It 
has abundance of ti-out, which are taken 
at all seasons. Geneva is 30 miles S. 
of Sodas bay on Lake Ontario, and 58 from 
Elmii-a on Tioga river of the Susque- 
haitna, with but 18 miles land carriage. 
W.T. &J.C.S. 

George, Lake, a beatiful sheet of clear 
water, abuiit 33 miles long and near 2 
miles broad, principally in the N. part 
of the County of Washington, which 
dij(charges Dortbward to Luke (^ham- 



plain, at Ticonderoga. The N. end ap-. 
proaches within 2 1-2 miles of that 
Lake, and the outlet is little more than 
3 miles long, where it is said to descend 
near 100 feet. Lake George is surround" 
ed by high mountains, and is excelled 
in romantic beauties by no similar wa^ 
ters in the world. The water is very 
deep, the bottom so clean that neither 
winds or freshets render it turbid, and 
it abounds with the finest of fish for the 
angler. Salmon trout are taken weigh- 
ing 20 pounds and upwards, with a great 
variety of other fish. The Lake abounds 
with sma'.l Islands, and the Narrows 
are separately described. At the S. end 
of the Lake, near the sites of Forts Wil- 
tiam Henry, and George, is the pleasant 
Village of Caldwele, which see. Lakp 
George is much resorted to in summer, 
in connexion with Ba^lston and Saratoga.. 
This Lake was ca!'ed Lac Sacrament, 
by the French, on account of the purity 
of its waters ; — and the Indians called 
it Ca»iideri-oit, or the tail of the Lake. 

Giant of the Vallet, a high detach= 
ed mountain so called, lies in Elizabeth- 
Town, Essex County, about one mile S. 
W. of the Court-House. The summit 
of this mountain is said to be elevateil 
about 1200 feet above the level of the 
plain, and to command a very extensive 
view of the country to the eastward. 
The whole valley of L. Champlain, lies 
as it were at your feet, while on the E. , 
the summits of the Green Mountains 
and the hills, vales, with the wood and 
f^rni-lands of Vermont, are seen to great 
advantage. 1 he Village of Plattsburgh ^ 
with the whole W. shore of the Lake, 
are in full view — and Burlington, Ver- 
gennes, Middlebury, and many other 
Villages in Vermont, compleie a viqvr 
whidh no Traveller can enjoy but with 
delight. In the same range of moun- 
tains, stretching N. and S., may be seen 
from here, many other summits of ne.ir- 
ly equal, and some of greater height. 
On the N. E., the side is almost a per^ 
pendicular declivity of about 700 feet, 
down which are often precipitaied huge 
masses of rock. 

B.D.P. 

GiBBONSviiLE, see Watervubt. 

Glen's Falls, on the Hudson, 3 miles 
W. of Sand) -Hill, form a pleasing group 
of picturesque scenery. The whole des- 
cent is about o5 feet, or 28 within 3 
rods, and the whole waters of the Hud- 
son fall in beautiful cascades over a rock 
of very fine primitive lime-stone. The 
physiognomy of this country, an^ its 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



201 



geologic features, are singular and high- 
ly interesting. A dam of about 4 feet 
has been erected across the river at the 
head of the falls, over which the water 
falls in one sheet, and is immediately 
separated by the rocks, into 4 principal 
channels, rushing down their respective 
cataracts with inconceivable force ; nor 
do they all unite for some distance. — 
Through the rocks that form these isl- 
ands, are some long excavations or cav- 
erns, presenting arched subterranean 
passages of considerable extent, evi- 
dently worn by the water ; as a lateral 
seam, common in limestone rocks, form- 
ed a conducting medium, and may be 
8till traced beyond the excavations. On 
one of the islands stand a carding-ma- 
chine and an old saw-mill, and a toll- 
bridge extends across the river immedi- 
ately below the Falls, which rents for 
^600 a year. This Island is in the Town 
of MoHEAu, which seje, but the main 
stream is in Queens burt. On each shore 
Are nulls, the water being conveyed in 
short canals or flumes from the dam. 
On the N. shore, are 2 saw-mills, the 
one a gang-mill with 21 saws, a trip- 
hammer, and a very valuable grain-mill, 
with 4 running stones is now building on 
the site of the old one, by Gen. Pettit, 
the enterprizing proprietor of the other 
mills. Glenville, a handsome thriving 
village, stands near the margin of the 
river on the N. side, at the junction of 
4 considerable roads. J.R. 

Goat Island, very small and of no 
other importance than as it divides the 
water at the Falls of Niagara into two 
sheets, being situated just at the head 
of the great cataract, near the American 
shore. 

Grand Isle, a large Island of Niag- 
ara river above the Falls ; commen- 
cing 4 miles below the outlet at Lake 
Krie, it extends to within 4 miles of 
the Cataract, and contains about 48,- 
000 acres. The growth of oak, hicko- 
ry, maple, beech, &c., is very heavy, 
and the soil pretty good in general, 
though an extensive marsh covers a con- 
siderable share of the central part. The 
channel on the eastern side is 8 miles 
longer than thaton the western, with less 
water. The Island of course belongs to 
the U. States' territory, and is at present 
attached to the Town of BuHalo, in Ni- 
agara County. It was first given by the 
Seneca Indians, to Sir Wm. Johnson, in 
1763. Descending to his son. Sir John 
Johnson, it was by his consent, sold by 



the Seneca Indians, to Thomas Morris^ 
Fisq. of Canandaigua, in 1798. 

Grand, or Wolf Island, is a large 
Island in the St. Lawrence, immediately 
below Lake Ontario, and opposite Kings- 
ton. It lies within the State of New- 
York, the main channel of the St. Law- 
rence being on the W. side ; and it ex- 
tends about 18 miles in length, with a 
very unequal width, from 1 to 6 miles. 

Grass, or La' Gras,* River, a consid- 
erable river of St. Lawrence County, ri- 
ses near the S. eastern extremity of that 
County, and runs N. W. and N., then 
holds a devious course through Canton, 
N. easterly through Madrid, Louisville 
and Massena, wliere it enters the St. 
Lawrence, near the head of Great St. 
Regis Island, after a comparative course 
of 125 miles. About 15 miles of thi» 
coui'se, in Louisville and Massena, is: 
nearly parallel witlx the St. Lawrence, 
at the distance of about 2 miles. In 
Canton, is the curious natural canal, 
connecting the waters of this river with 
the Osvvegatchie. This stream, with 
Racket, and St. Regis rivers, enter the; 
St. Lawrence within the short distance 
of 6 miles, after running nearly parallel 
for several miles immediately before 
they enter that river. Below Canton, its 
width is from 12 to 20 rods, has many- 
rapids and falls, and many excellerit 
sites for mills. 

A.L. 

Great Hog Neck Island, see Shelteb 
Island. 

Great Vlaie, or Fly, see Nobthampi 
ton. 

Green Island, see Watehvliet. 

Gull Islands, Gheat and Little, see 

S.OUTaOLI). 



H. 

HAMILTOJV, a Post-Township in 
the S. E. part of Madison County ; bound- 
ed N. by Madison, E. by Brookfield, S, 
by Sherburne in Chenango Co., W. by 
Lebanon ; being Township No. 4, of the 
20, on De Witt's Maps. It is situated 
110 miles W. of Albany, and 25 S. W. of 
Utica. In 1801, Hamiiton was erected 
into a Town, and comprised Townships 
No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 ; ixow cpnstituted 4 

* The fat or fertile river, so called Iry 
the French. Zn' Gras riviere, fertile orfut 

■ river. 



202 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



towns : Eaton, Madison, Hamilton and 
Lebanon. Hamilton is abundantly wa- 
tered by the branches of Chenango river, 
\v*hich rise in this ami the adjoining 
Towns. This Town is settled by emi- 
i^ranls from the Eastern States, and has 
had a rapid increase of wealth and popu- 
lation. The soil is of u superior quality. 
At present, the courts are held alter- 
nately here tuid in Sullivan. See Caze- 
xoviA. There are '2 churches, aiul se- 
veral school-houses. The population in 
1810, 2220 ; 384 heads of tamilies ; one 
slave. The taxable property, 184,850 
tloUars, as valued by assessment ; sena- 
torial electors, 179. There are about 
12 or 13 grain and saw-mills. A hand- 
some Village of about 40 houses and 
stores, with one church, is pleasantly si- 
tuated on the main branch of Chenango 
river, called Hamilton Village, where is 
the Post-OfRce. 

J.W.B. 
Hajipstead, a Tov.nship in the west- 
ern angle of Rockland County, with 2 
Post-Offices, Itaviapo Works p. o., 130 
miles from Albany ; and Kakiat p. o. It 
3S bounded N. westerly by Orange Coun- 
ty, E. by Clarkstown, and a small part 
of Orangetown, S. westerly by the state 
of New-Jersey, an extent of 11 miles. 
The surface is broken, and on the N. and 
W . are some hills that aspire to the 
name of mountains. The vallics are 
productive of the common crops, and 
very excellent for fruit. The liamapo 
river, which rises in Orange Cuunty, 
runs S. across the W. part of this Town 
in^o New-Jerseyj receiving here a small 
stream that also supplies mill-seats.— 
This stream is of sufficient force for 
7Tvills, and it abounds with falls. The 
^vholc population in 1810, was 2313, 
including 47 slaves, and there were 
rdso 178 electors, and .i86 taxable inliab- 
itants. There are one Dutch Reformed, 
and one Presbyterian meeting'-house, and 
abou 8 or 9 school-houses. The iron 
:nanutiicturr£ of this Town .employ a 
great number of persons. There are 5 
bloomerles, o;- foiges for m:iking bar- 
iron, an extensive nail factory, connected 
with which is a rolling and si. tting-mill, 
and a great number of mids of various 
kinds. Ramapo Works, or Piersoii's 
IForks, are situated on the Ramapo ri- 
ver, 2 1-2 miles S. of New-Antrim, ..nd 
0)1 the stage road between Alba.' •■ ;nd 
New-York, in what was called the l'..ss, 
which was fortified iluring'the iCcvo- 
iutionary war. These Works consist 
o.f a forge, a rolling and slitting-mill, 



works for cutting and heading of nails 
by water, saw and grist-mills. Sec. &c. 
Hei e is a Post-Office, a small Presby- 
terian meeting-house, and about 60 other 
buildings. These works employ 150 
men, and give direct support to about 
400 persons, besides partial employ to 
near as many more, in the various opera- 
tions connected wi<h the establishment. 
700 tons of iron were rglled aiid slit here 
in llilO, and about 500 tons manufactur- 
ed into nails. These woiks commenced 
operation in 1798, and are owned byJ.G. 
Pierson and Brothers. Hater's Jforks, 
2 miles above these, on the same stream, 
have 6 forge fires, and employ about 140 
persons. 

p.S.V.O.,rx.S.,A.&J.H.P. 

Hatersthaav, a Post-Township in the 
n(>rthern angle of Rockland County, 120 
miles S. of Albany, and 40 N. of New- 
York ; bounded N. westerly by the Coun- 
ty of Orange, E. by the Hudson, which 
here spreads into Haverstraw bay, or 
by Cortlandt, in the County of Westches- 
ter, S. by Clarkstown and Hempstead. 
It is about 12 miles S. of AVest-Point in 
the Highlands, and includes Stony-Point 
with Old Fort Clinton, well known posi- 
tions in the time of the Revolutionary 
war, with Dunderbcrg hill or moun- 
tain. The.se facts fully indicate itsiiKiun- 
tainaus surface, which, however, is inr 
terspersed with many vallies of arable 
land. Its mill-streams are small, but as 
they descend the hills to the Hudson, 
ovo-i- many cataracts, afibrd good mill- 
seats in abundance. There are several 
Landings, with wharves, sloops, and a 
considerable atnoimt of trade. Ha\'«r- 
straw ba}, a wide place in thp Hudsori, 
gave its name to this Town. There ai'e 
7 forges for making bar-iron, and a cum- 
petent number of mill^ of various kinds. 
In the Villa.y,e of Ware-ex, which is situ- 
ated in the IJay, there are about 30 
houses and stores, with an Academy and 
a mpeting-house. There is also one other 
meeting-house in this Town, and a num- 
ber of school-houses. In 1810, the whole 
population was 1866, including '26 slaves, 
and tljeie were 115 senatorial electors. 
PS V.C.&J.H.P. 

Haruisoit, or Harison, a Township of 
West-Chester County, 30 miles from 
N. York, and 3 miles E. of IVhite-Plains ; 
bounded northerly by North-Castle, E. 
and southerly by R} e,W. by Mamaroneck 
White-Plains and North-Castle. Its 
length, N. and S. is about 9 miles, and 
its iTictUal width near 3 miles. It is 
bounded on t!ie W. by IMamaroneck 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



203 



creek, and like most of the other Towns 
in this County, its form is irregular, hav- 
ing' no rig'ht lines for its boundaries. — 
And it presents vpry little for local de- 
tail. The land is under good cultiva- 
tion, and the streams supply mill-seats 
in abundance. The S. line is about one 
mile from the Sound, and the N. E. cor- 
ner tourhes upon the W, line of Connect- 
icut. In 1810, the whole amount of tax- 
able property was 235,009 dollars, when 
there were 163 taxable inhabitants, 66 
electors, and a whole population of 1119 
persons. N.T. S.l), 

Hadif.t, a Post-Township of Saratoga 
County, 17 miles N. ofBallston b'pa, and 
50 to 60 N. of Albany, being about 15 
miles long N. and S.; bounded N.by Wash- 
ington County, E. by the Hudson or 
Washington County, S. by Greenfield, 
W., by Edinburgh. The Sacandaga rims 
E. across tl^e Ivl. end to tlie Hudson ; and 
Kyadeross creek has its source in the 
"SV., near that of another smal,l stream 
that runs N. m'o S;k nndaga river. I'lie 
surface is brokn and mountaiuous, and 
the soil but indifferent, vvilh a large 
proportion of waste land. The timber 
is principally pine, witli some maple, 
hemlock, be< rh, birch, &c.; and tlicre 
are many marshes of considerable extent. 
The sniall ponds abound with trout, as 
do the Streams also. The soil of the 
arable lands is a light sandy loam, and 
there are some tracts of &lay. In 1810, 
the whole population was 1725, and tliere 
were 122 senatorial electors. The pine 
and other timber which abound here, 
furnish great quantities of lumbei" in 
boards, 8ic., and this business employs 
a. large part of the inhabitants for a con- 
siderable part of each year. 

N.T.,J.S.,&A.C B. 

Hampton, a comparatively small but 
C;ood Township of land in Washington 
County ; bounded by Granville on the S., 
iW by Whitehall, E. and N. by Poultney 
river, which separates New-Yovk and 
Vermont. Its length, N. and S., is about 
8 miles ; its breadth, 3 1-2 to 4 miles. — 
The s»il and productions, are the same 
as those of Granville, which are am- 
ply described. The timber is maple, 
Beech, &.c.^ interspersed with beautiful 
groves of wliite pine. The surface in 
general is moderately uneven, but along 
the river are eitensive and very fertile 
intervales. The stones are the blue and 
red slat« or shistus, with quarries of 
excellent lime stone. The whole is well 
watered and healthy, and remarkable for 
the £^rcv;th of apple trces^ which jifo- 



i duce excellent fruit. The whole num- 
ber of families is about 120, and the po- 
pulation is computed at 800 The in- 
habitants are principally emigrants from 
Massachusetts and Connecticut, of in- 
dustrious Habits, with good society re- 
gulations. Much toward supplying their 
wants of clothing-, &c., is produced by 
tioushold manufactui'es. There \s an 
Episcopal meeting-house near the centre 
of the Town, and societies of Congrega^- 
tionalists and Methodists. Mills arc 
erected for the conveuience of the iii- 
habitants, and a distillery has been late- 
ly erected. Population, by the census 
of 1810-, 820, with 50 effectors. 

J.K. 
Hague, a Townshjp of Washington 
County, W. of Lake George : bounded N. 
by Essex Co., E. by Lake Georgt, S. by 
Bolton, W. by ScrotiT river. This Town 
was called Rocliester, and first erected 
by that name, March 6, 1807; the name 
was changed to Hague, April 6, 1808. 
It is a tract of mountainous counti-y, 
principally wild, though along the Lake 
arc some pretty good tracts of land, and 
the Town contains about 60 families, 
principally settled along the margin of 
the Lake. Soil, jjroducts, &c., so nearly 
resemble those of Bolton, that a repeti- 
tion is unnecessary. There are 3 or 4 
school-houses, ajid 2 saw-mills, with ma- 
ny good mill-seats yet unimproved. Tlie 
streams, however, are small, and the 
land is well watered. lira?u lake is in 
this Town— and Rogeus' Rock, a bold 
acclivity of massy granite, which rises 
from the water about 300 feet, on an 
angle of 45 or 50 degrees. The surface 
is pretty smooth, though there are some 
seams or perpendicular cavities, and bv 
boldly retreating down this rock, thi^ 
celebrated Major Rogers gave it hi::; 
name. On the top of the rock, the brave 
Rogers witli his party of veterans, were 
surprised and encircled by a party of sa- 
vages, about 1758. lie esc;iped unhurt 
by a hasty retreat down the rock, but 
lost the most of his men ; though this 
temerarious adventure conj])!eieiy es- 
tablished the reputation of Rogers, in 
the eyes of his savage enemy. The bones 
of the victims remain yet uiiburied, en 
the summit, and the curious are doubly 
compensated for their labor in ascendinf;; 
to view them, by an extensive prospet" 
of the surrounding country. 

U.B.,K.B. 
Halfmoon, a large Tov/nship in the 
southern extremity of Saratog-a Coimly, 

11 including i.lic P'/tt-VUhw-e nj'}fiUcr^.L 



204 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



12 miles S. E. of linlhton, and 15 N. of 
Albany ; bour'Ied N. by Ballston, Malta 
and SLillwater, E. by the Hudson or tlie 
County of Rensselaer, S. by the Mohawk 
or the County of Albany, W. by the 
County of Schenectady. Greatest extent 
E. and \V. 11 miles, greatest N. ami S. 
8 1-2 ; it extends 8 miles along the Hud- 
son, and about 12 along the Mohawk 
Dwarf kill, a small stream that runs N. 
to Round Lake on the N. line, has some 
mill-seats, as there are also on Antho- 
ny's kill, which forms part of the north- 
ern boundary ; and there is a small 
stream that' enters the Mohawk near 
Harmony church which has some mill- 
seals. The Cahoos falls of the Mohawk, 
near its mouth, are between this Town 
and AVatervliet, and will supply a rast 
profusion of sites when the surrounding 
population shall need extensive water- 
works. There are now mills erected 
on the upper sprout or delta of that ri- 
ver, just at Waterford Point where it 
meets the Hudson. The surface is con- 
siderably diversified, and the centre is 
occupied by a high plain with some 
summits of a moderate height ; while in 
the E. and S. are the vallies of the Hud- 
son and Mohawk, where the rivers have 
deepened their courses till the termi- 
nating plain presents some considerable 
hills. Along the Hudson are fine fiats 
wjiich only term;aate at Waterford 
Point, the' angle formed by the com- 
mingled waters of tl>e two rivers ; and 
these fiats have a good soil. Along the 
Mohawk is a sterile rugged tract for 
several miles, where are some fiats of 
sand or argillaceous mold. The soil of 
the interior is principally a light and 
yellowish sandy loam, the timber pine, 
Sc. ; — along the rivers, oak predomi- 
nates, with walnut and a variety of hard 
woods. The roads are too numerous to 
be good, and the main post road from 
Albany to the N. country, crosses the 
Mohawk at the Calioos bridge, and leads 
through Waterford and along the Hud- 
soh through a small viUag'e in the N. 
called the Borough, 8 miles from Waier- 
Ibrd. There is a bridge also across the 
Hudson at Waterford, both toll-bridges. 
About 4 miles N. W. of Waterford, on 
the I'oad to Ballston-Spa, is a small viU 
lage called Midilletoivn, and N. of this is 
a farming lieighborhood, called J\'ewtoivn, 
where is a Quaker meetinj^-housc, 10 
miles from Waterford. Waterfokd is 
rm incorporated Post-Villagt, pleasantly 
situated on the N. side of the Mohawk, 
:.m a point eft' knd fornred by that and 



tie Hudson, 10 miles N. of Albany.— 
Sloops ascend to this place, but with 
great difficulty, and it unfortunately 
stands rather above than at the head of 
navigation. Great exertions are making 
to render the river navigable to tliis 
place, and in time it may be efiTected, 
The trade is now very considerable ; and 
here are about 190 houses and stores, 2 
churches or houses of worship, and some 
other buildings. See Watehfohd. A- 
bout 6 miles W. of Waterford, in a bend 
of the Mohawk, is a tract known by the 
name of Clifton Park, in which rs a 
Dutch Reformed church called Amity, 
with a Baptist meeting-house also, in 
a farming district. The whole popula- 
tion o*' Halfmoon in 1810, was 5292, 
with 592 electors. 

N.T.,J.S.8:S.G. 
HiiiTFonD, a Post-Township of Wash- 
ington County, 54 miles a little E. of 
N. from Albany, and 8 E. of Sandy-Hill '; 
bounded E. by Granville, S. by Hebron 
and Argyle, W. bv Khigsbury. Its ex- 
tent N, & S. 7, E. and W. 5 miles. The 
adjoining Towns are very minutely de- 
scribed, and for the general character ot 
its soil, with its products, &c., see those 
Towns. There are no streams of water 
that merit notice, except that Wood 
cret- k runs along the N. W. corner ; and 
there is a scarcity of mill-seats. In 1810, 
the population was 2389, with 269 elect- 
ors. Tlie inhabitants, like those of the 
surrounding Towns, are princi))ally clad 
in the products of their farms, prepared 
by the houshold wheel and loom. The 
old road from Troy to Whitehall, leads 
centrally through this Town, on which 
are 2 small villages of 25 to 30 houses 
each, with a. house of worship also.— 
They are 47 and 48 1-2 miles from Troy. 
This Town was first erected in 1793, 
from a part of Westfield, with its pre- 
sent limits, being the tract called the 
Provincial Patent. 

J.C.,J.H. 
Haktwick, a Post-Township of Otsego 
Caunty, 4 miles S. W. from Cooperstov/n--, 
7\ Vr. of Albany; bounded N. by Otsego, 
E. by Middlefield, S. by Milford and Lau- 
rens, W. by New-Lisbon. It is about 5 
miles square. On the E. it is washed by 
the Susquehanna, just issued from Otse 
go Lake, and by Oaks creek, the outlet of 
Canaderaga or Schuyler's Lake ; and the 
east branch of Otego creek runs south 
across the W. part. These streams sup- 
|5ly a great abundance of mill-seats. — 
rhc sul'face is considerably broken and 
, hilly, but with rich InterveDin!:; '-'llicf;. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW -YORK. 



205 



and much of the liilly lands are arable, 
or jfood for iiieadv^w or grazing. The 
soil is principal!}' a light loam or mold, 
and the whole is well watered by springs 
and brooks. Tlie inhabitants are prin- 
cipally employed in farming, and are 
frugal and industrious. And in common 
with tliose of the other Towns in this 
County, are peculiarly plain in their 
dress, almost wholly the product of the 
houshold wheel and loom. There is one 
Baptist, and one Presbyterian meeting- 
house ; and 7 school-houses. A cotton 
manufactory, 5 saw-mlllB, 2 fulling-mills 
and a carding-machine. In 1810, the 
whole population was 20G2, with 261 
electors, 318 ta.xable inhabitants, and 
S212,50r of taxable property. 

N.T.,J.P.&E.P. 

Harrisbuhgii, a newly settled Post- 
Township in the Black river country, 
near the N. W. corner of Lewis County, 
being 6 miles square. It is bounded by 
Denmark on the N., Lowville on the E., 
Pinckney on the W., and a tract of un- 
settled land called Constable's purchase 
on the S. The soil is mostly a dark 
loam, loose, moist, and easily cultivat- 
ed ; producing pretty good crops of 
grain, grass. Sec, but roost natural to 
grass. Flax succeeds extremely well, 
and pease are a standard crop. The 
timber is a large and heavy growth of 
maple, beech, elm, bass-wood, butternut 
and ash. The surface is pretty level, 
with a gentle slope to the B., but the 
whole is said to be well watered. Deer 
creek, a good sized mill stream runs N. 
eastward through this Town, and forms 
good mill-seats, as do some other small 
streams. The first settlement of this 
Town was in 1803, and it now contains, 
(1810,) about 80 families, who have e- 
rected o saw-mills. The settlements 
are rapidly extending, and the roads are 
pretty good. The distance fram Brown- 
ville, about 20 miles ; from Rome, 6o 
miles, about north. Population, by the 
Census of 1810, 572 ; 74 senatorial elec- 
tors . 

S.S. 

Hancock, a Township in the S. E. cor- 
ner of Delaware County, 30 or 2'i miles 
southerly of Delhi, and 60 or 65 W. of 
Kingston ; bounded N. E. by Colchester 
from which it was erected in 1806 ; S.E. 
by Sullivan County, S. W. by Delaware 
river or the State of P;;nnsylvania, N. 
W. by Tompkins. It is a rough hilly 
tract of land, thinly inhabited, except 
along the flats of the E. branch of the 
Delaware which runs S, W. near the 



centre of the Town. Beaver creek, 
which rises in Sullivan (bounty, enters 
the S. bank of the E. branch of Delaware 
in Hancock, and along this ai-e also some 
flats with a few inhabitants. The whole 
population in 1810, was 578, with 92 fa- 
milies, and personal taxable property 
assessed at gl0,431, and with the real 
estate making a?i aggregate of gl 19,937- 
The principal business is getting of 
lumber that descends the Delaware to 
Philadelphia. There are 6 school-hou- 
ses, wiih several mills and some other 
improvements. 

C.G. & O.P. 
Hannibal, a Township at the nor- 
thern extremity of Onondaga County* 
30 miles N. westerly of Onondaga, and 
180 miles N. of W. from Albany ; bound- 
ed N. by Luke Ontario, easterly by Os- 
wego river or the County of Oneida, S. 
by Lysander, and by Cato in Cayuga 
County, W. by Cayuga Coanty. It is 
Hannibal of the Military Townships, 
and was erected into a 1'own in 1806. 
The advantages for navigation are very 
good, and there are some small streams 
that supply mill-seats. The Country is 
comparatively new, and the population 
in 1810 was 296, with 27 senatorial elec- 
tors. A Village has been lately laid out 
at the mouth of Oswego river, on a plan 
to correspond with that on the opposite 
shore, called Oswego, or Oswego Fort, 
and in one of these Villages is a Post- 
Office. This Village has now about 30 
houses, and a considerable and increas- 
ing trade. This is also called Osweyo, and 
perhaps one general name for the 2 Vil- 
lages is preferable to a more local de- 
signation, though at present they arc iii 
2 separate Counties. The importance 
of the situation will probably form a 
populous Town here at no remote peri- 
od, should not the existing troubles with 
Canada prevent its growth, nor the abun- 
dant legislative I'estrictions prevent the 
exercise of private rights. And should 
a Village or Town be formed here, it is 
forever to be called Oswego, agreeable 
to a law passed in 1797. 

B.W.,N.T. 
KARrEnsFiELD, a Post-Township of 
Delaware County, 20 miles N. R. of Bel- 
la, 55 or 58 miles S. W. of Albany, and 
51 from Catskiil'; bounded northerly by 
Otsego County, easterly by Schoharie 
County, southerly by Delaware river, 
and westerly by Kortright. It is about 
9 miles long" and 4 1-2 wide ; and extends 
from Charhnte on the W. to the head 
stream of Delaware river on the east. 
27 



206 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Its waters are small, but they supply 
good mill-seats. It has 2 turnpike I'oads ; 
one from Catskill, and one from Albany. 
The soil is generally a ricli chocolate 
colored loam, ^vcll adapted for grass, 
and the surface is broken with hills and 
Tallies, all capable of cultivation. There 
are 2 small ponds, and the land is well 
watered by springs and brooks. The 
timber is maple, beech, bass-wood, ash, 
and on the hills, oak ; and there are 
some groves of pine. The land is held 
in fee, and well cultivated. There are 
2 houses of worship, and 9 rjchool-houses : 
5 grain-mills, 7 saw-mills, 2 fulling- 
mills, 3 carding-machines, a cotton and 
woollen factory, and a distillery? besides 
a manufactory of carding machines and 
some other works. There are 103 looms 
in families, which produced 31,353 yards 
of cloth in 1810, when there were 284 
families, and a population of 1691 souls. 
The taxable property amounted to 97,711 
dollars. Some settlements were made 
here |5rior to the Revolutionary war, 
when the inhabitants sufFered very much, 
and ware driven from their possessions, 
with the loss of several lives by the sa- 
vage tomahawk. J.H.B.&C.G. 

Hempstead, a Post-Township of Queens 
County, on the S. side of Long-Island, 
22 miles a little S. of E. from New-York, 
and 182 from Albany; bounded N. by 
North-Hempstead, E. by 0\ ster bay, S. 
by the Atlantic Ocean, W. by Jamaica. 
Along the sea shore are a great number 
of bays and islands, and Rockaway beach 
is of considerable importance. Hemp- 
stead Plains are principally in this Town, 
and merit a separate description. This 
Township has the greatest aggregate 
population of any in the County, and 
there are several small Villages, the 
largest of which is of the same name 
witli the Town. There are some small 
streams of water, but the principal de- 
pendence is on tide-mills. The land is 
of various qualities, and it is, in genei'al, 
under pretty good cultivation. The 
whole population in 1810, «as 5804, 
when there Mere 445 senatorial elect- 
ors. The roads are very numerous. — 
llockaway beach is much resorted to in 
jsummer for sea-bathing, and the vari 
oils pleasures of fishing, shooting, &.c., 
Mihere there is great plenlj of game. It 
commands a fine view of the Ocean, San- 
dy-Hook, the New-Jersey hills, and oj 
the shipping passing in and out of the 
liarbor of New- York. Among the re- 
cords of this Town is a copy of the 
Duke of York's laws, passed about 1665, 



for the government of the Pror'.nce of 
New-York ; and it is also said they were 
enacted here. S.L.M. 

Hkukox, a Post-Township of Wash- 
ington County, on the E. line of the 
stale ; bounded N by Hartford and 
Granville, E. by Rupert and Pawlet, in 
Vermont, S. by "^alem, W. by Argyle, 
being about 7 mile.^ square. The face 
of the country is broken by hills, some 
of lai'ge size, but there are no rivers, 
and the inhabitants experience some 
want of mill-streams. The soil is pro- 
ductive, and the surface stony and 
well watered. The situation is elevated, 
and very properly adapted for grazing, 
though wheat, rye, pease, oats, flax, the 
common fruits, 8tc., are pretty sure crops ; 
and its want of mill-streams forbids the 
introduction of manufactures, except in 
the houshold way, much of which is 
now performed annually. See GiiAif- 
viLLE. There are 3 Presbyterian meet- 
ing-houses, some Anabaptists, and a few 
Quakers. The common schools are re- 
spectably supported. There are 3 grist- 
mills, and some few saw-mills, and a 
competent number of common mechan- 
ics. Ulack Creek, a small stream, runsj 
southerly into Salem, and empties there 
into Battenkill. Hebron is one of the 
original Towns, organized March, 1788, 
and now contains, 1810, about 325 taxa- 
ble inhabitants, and 258 senatorial elect- 
ors ; in 1808, 250 ; 1801, 229. Popula- 
tion, by the Census of 1810, 2436, with 
258 senatorial electors, 

D.H. 

Hector, a Post-TowHship in the S. W. 
corner of Seneca County, 10 miles S. of 
Ovid, and 190 AV. of Albany; bounded 
N. by Ovid, E. by Ulysses, S. by Catha- 
rine, in Tioga County, and W. by the Se- 
neca lake ; being about 10 miles square. 
Hector is the S. westernmost Township 
in the Military tract of this state. 
The surface is considerably broken, and 
the southern and central parts, said to 
be hilly and barren; but the whole is 
well watered. The first settlement wa« 
commenced in 1791, but it contained in 
1794, only 3 white families. It now 
contains 250 families, 85 senatorial elect- 
ors, and about 280 taxable inhabitants. 
A considerable number of the inhabit- 
ants live on land held and occupied 
merely by possession, termed Squatters, 
in the language of the country, and only 
on the sufferance of landlords. Wheat, 
grass, &c., succeed well, and the common 
kinds of iiuiis, such as peach, apple, 
&c. Little can be said of its scirools. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



207 



school-houses, or other public building's 
There are, however, 4 or 5 grist-mills, 
8 saw-mills, and a competent number of 
common mechanics. In the N. W. cor- 
ner is a tract of 800 acres of land be- 
longing to the Town, on which are 
erected a grain-mill and some other 
buildings, the whole income of which 
arc intended as a permanent fund for 
the support of common schools and of 
the ministry. Population, 1563, by the 
Census of 1810. 

R.S.&CS. 
HENDEnsoif, a Post-Township of 
Jefferson County, on the E. shore of 
Lake Ontario, about 8 miles S. of the 
mouth of Black River ; bounded N. and 
W. on Lake Ontario, and a small part of 
Hounsfield, E. by Adams, S. by EUis- 
burgh. Its form is irregular, being 
largely indented by JWiples or Jlemlevson 
JBay, an arm of Hungry bay, which ex- 
tends about 5 miles from N. E. to S. W., 
and at about 3 miles forming a safe and 
commodious harbor, where vessels of 
100 Ions may safely enter, and anchor 
within 60 feet of the shore, this Town- 
ship is designated Jhnderson, on De 
"Wilt's Maps, being principally owned 
by Wm. Hendei-son, Esq. o) New-York. 
The soil is either a light loam, or sand, 
or an admixture of each ; easy ot til- 
lage, and productive. The streams are 
JBig and Little Stony creeks, the former 
of which has several good sites for mills, 
2 of which are impi-oved. A grist and 
saw-mill near the centre of the 'I'own, 
and a saw-mill near the lake, where are 
now building, a grain and fulling-mill. 
The lands produce good crops of wheat, 
maize, grass, &c., which are protected 
from frosts by the contiguity of the 
lake- Nor are the snows so uncomfort- 
ably deep, as more i-etnote from this 
large body of water. No metals yet dis- 
covered, and building stones are rather 
scarce. The timber is oak, walnut, elm, 
beech, lindeit or bass-wood, maple, some 
chesnut, and abundance of excellent 
white and yellow pine. The settlement 
commenced in 1803, by 4 or 5 families; 
in 1804, there were but 10 ; in 1805, 70 ; 
and now, 1810, there are about 180 fa- 
milies, 121 senatorial electors, ahd 1134 
souls. There are 2 companies of militia. 
From Henderson Harbor to the river St. 
J iawrence, is 30 miles. 

J.H. 

HEnKiMEB, a Post-Township, the ca- 

wltal of Herkimer County, is situated on 

the north shore of the Mohawk, 78 miles 

W. of Albany, and 14 B. qf Ulicaj 



bounded N. by Newport and Fairfield, 
E. by Fairfield and the County of Mont- 
gomery, S. by the Mohawk, W. bv 
Schuyler. It extends along the Mohawk 
near 15 miles, and the N. line is indent- 
ed by Fairfield, which approaches with- 
in about 3 miles of the river. The allu- 
vial flats along the river are extensive, 
and were originally called German Flats, 
like those in that Town on the opposite 
shore of the Mohawk. The land is of a 
superior quality, with considerable di- 
versity of soil and surface. W.Canada 
creek comes from the N. and enters the 
Mohawk in tliis Town, near the Village 
of Herkimer. This is a fine rapid stream , 
and jibounds with rapids and falls, and 
has at all times abundance of water for 
mills. And there are some otlier mill- 
streams ; at the Little Falls are also 
great advantages for water-works. This 
Town has been long settled, and is 
principally under some kind of improve- 
ment. I'he W. part, near the Little 
Falls, is broken, rugged, and compara- 
tively wild. In ISIO, this Town had 415 
families, 282 senatorial electors, and a 
population of 2T43 ; when the taxable 
property was assessed at a valuation of 
S879,051. There are 2 very considera- 
ble, incorporated Villages. Herkimkiv 
Village, is pleasantly situated on the 
W. side of W. Canada creek, about 1-2 
a mi:le from that stream, and the same 
distance fronv the Mohawk. There are 
95 houses and stores, tiie County build- 
injis, and a handsome church, with a 
steeple and spire of 140 feet in height. 
The site is a fine gravelly plain, and the 
buildings, principally of wood, are hand- 
somely arranged on 2 parallel streets. 

Seven miles W. of this, is the Village 
of Little Falls, with a Post-Office of 
the same name, 71 miles from Albany, 
on the Western turnpike to Utica, as is 
Herkimer also. Here is a canal with 8 
locks, about 50 houses and stores and a 
church. The site of this Village is very 
rocky and unpleasant, chosen tor a place 
of business rather than pleasure. The 
rocks are curiously disposed, and muck 
worn by the Mohawk, which appears to 
have traversed the whole valley from 
hill to hill, and even to very near their 
summits, of which there are indubitable 
evidences, well worthy the attention of 
the curious. The locks and canal navi 
gation of this river are subjects of les.'r 
consideration than formerly, and much 
less than is generally imagined : be 
cause much less used. At present, nint 
tenths of the transportation of this 



208 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



country to and from Albanj^ is perPormed 
by land. The navigation of rapid rivers 
is attended with great inconveniences, 
insuperable in a country of considerable 
population, having good roads. This 
Village is finely situated for manufacto- 
ries, and this, with its ti-ade, will proba- 
bly make it the site of a populous Town 
at, no very remote period. 

N.T.,J N.&S.G. 
Hillsdale, a Post-Township of Co- 
lumbia County, 16 miles E. of Hudson, 
and 35 miles S. E. of Albany ; bounded 
N. by Chatham and Canaan, E. by tlje 
(State of Massachusetts, S. by Granger, 
iv. by Claverack. It is about 12 miles 
long N. and S. and has a medial width 
of 7 1-2. Its surface is considerably 
broken by the range of hills noticed un- 
der Canaan-, and of a similar character 
with those, wliich see. In the W., the 
hills are less lofty, and the vallies more 
extensive, with a larger proportion of 
arable land. Its waters are small, but 
they afford a good supjily of mill-seats. 
Ancram, or Itoeleff Jansen's ereek, rises 
in the centre, and runs S. to the E. part 
of Granger ; Green river, as it is called, 
comes from the S. E. part of Canatm, 
and runs 5 miles in this Town through 
Green-river-hollow, and enters Alford, 
in Massachusetts. This is a water of 
the Housatonic of Connecticut ; and 
Green-river-hollow is formed by lofty 
hills on each side, that aspire to the name 
of mountains. Kline kill,or little creek, 
a branch of Clavei'ack creek, runs from 
near the centre. And all these streams 
afford mill-seats. There are 11 grain- 
mills, 10 saw-mills, 4 fulling-mills, and 

4 carding-machines. In the N.part, and W. 
of Green-rlver-hoUow, is a tract of about 

5 miles square that is commonly called 
Spencertoim, a local name well known. 
Here is a small village, with a Post- 
Office, of the same name, and about 25 
houses, besides a church for Congrega- 
tionalists. J\'obktoiv)i is a local name 
for a tract in the S. part, of about equal 
extent, with a warmer soil. In Green- 
river-hollow is a small village of 12 
houses and a church. There are in all 
^ churches or houses for public wor- 
ship, and 35 f^chool-houses. The turn- 
pikes leading from Albany and Hudson 
to Hartford, in Connecticut, lead througii 
this Town, and there are many other 
roads. Vegetation is about & days later 
than in the W. part of Claverack, at the 
distance of 8 to 12 miles. The unhappy 
clisputes respecting titles to lands in 
this Town, had lon^ agitated the minds 



of people, and several lives have been lost 
in the controversy, now iiappily ended by 
final arbitration. In 1810, the whole pop- 
ulation was 4182, including 25slaves, and 
there are 517 electors. A.T.,&.G.G. 

HoMEB, a Post-Township, the Capital 
of Cortlandt County, 26 miles S. of Onon- 
daga Hollow, 40 N. of Owego, and 145 
W. of Albany; bounded N. by Preble, 
E. by Solon, S. by Virgil, W. by Locke 
in Cayuga County. It is 10 miles square, 
being the Military Township of Homer. 
It is well watered by the Tioughnioga 
and its numerous branches, which sup- 
ply abundance of mill-seats. The land 
is of a gof.d quality. Port Watson Post- 
Office, is in this Town, in the village of 
the same name, 3 miles from Homer 
Village, lu 1810, the whole population 
was 2991, when there were 272 electors. 
The taxable property, as valued on the 
Supervisors' bocks, amounted to gl05,- 
824. The turnpikes ai'e very numerous, 
and the common roads are pretty good. 
This Town is increasing very last in po- 
pulation and wealtli. The inhabitants 
are principally farmers, who make the 
most of their clothing in the boushold 
way. The Village of Ilomcr is pleasantly 
situated on a line plain on the bank of 
the Tioughnioga, and contains 70 houses 
and stores, a Presbyterian meeting- 
house, the court-house and prison for 
the Co'inty, and some other buildings. 
This Village has been wholly built since 
1798, when the first tree was cut from 
the spot on which it now stands. The 
Village of Port tf'atson contains about 
25 houses and stores, and is beaulifully 
situated on the Tioughnioga, 3 miles 
from the above. Between these 2 villa- 
ges are about 10 or 12 houses, which 
make Cortlandt village. L.F.S. 

HoosAc, a Post-Township in the N.E. 
corner of Rensselaer Comity, 20 miles 
N. E. of Troy, and 26 from Albany; 
bounded N. by V/ashington County, E. 
by Bennington in the state of Vermont, 
S. by Petersburgh, W. by Pittstown. Its 
population in 1810, was 3117, including 
53 slaves, and there were 401 senatorial 
electors. The personal propertv assess- 
ed in 1810, amounted to 55,345 dol- 
lars, and the aggregate of real and per- 
sonal was 413,562 dollars. Hoosac 

river or creek runs N. through this 
lown, a little W. of its centre, and 
receives Walloomscoic creek from the 
E., near the N. line, and soon passes into 
Washington Count} . The land is brok- 
en, in some parts by high hills, and in 
genwal by hills of a moficrate lieightj 



GAZEITEER OF NEW-YORK. 



209 



interspersed with vallies and gentle un- 
dulations of arable lands. Tlie soil of 
the arable lands ia principally a shistic 
gravel, with tracts of clay, and some of 
alluvion along the creeks. The falls of 
Hoosac creek, aflbrdiimple cotivcniences 
for water-works, and abundance of wa- 
ter at all times. Tho descent is 40 feet 
in the distance of 200, and here Is a Vil- 
laii'e called Hoosac Falla, containing' 2 
oil-milis, a grain-mill, fulling-mill, card- 
ing-machine, and about 30 houses and a 
Church, or 60 within one mile square — 
It is 30 miles from Albany. Four Cor- 
ners Village has about 15 houses. It 
will be recollected that Bennington bat- 
tle, as it was called, was ibiight on this 
^Tound and in Ilennington and Cam- 
bridge, Aug. IG, IFTTjWhere the tempo- 
rary woik.s erected on that occasion, 
are still to be seen, some of which are 
near this Village. A road from New- 
Lebanon ypring}.-, through Stephentown, 
Berlin and I'eiersbuigh, crosses at the 
Falls Village, and there are other com- 
mon roads in every direction. 

N.T., B.S,&S.G. 
lIoPKi:?TON, a Post-Township in the 
E. part of St. Lawrence County, orgnni- 
zed in 1805, 35 to 40 mites E. oiOgdcns- 
burgh; bounded E. by Franklin County, 
S.on a'lract of unsettled Townships, W. 
by Ilussell, N. by Stockholm and Masse- 
na. In the original bounds of Hopkin- 
ton, it includes only the Townships of 
Catharineville, Islington, and a part of 
Chesterfield ; but for the I'urposes of 
civil government, the following Towns, 
all lying in the S., and extending to 
Montgomery County, are annexed anil in- 
cluded hi the following description — 
viz : Cookham, Matildavale, Wick, 
Riversdale, Granshuck, Hollywood, Kil- 
dare, Harwood, Jamestown, Pierceheld, 
Cherwood, Oakham, and Mortlake, all of 
which are in the 2d great tract of Ma- 
comb's purchase. In the N. part of the 
Town are large tracts of first rate land, 
pleasant and i'ertile, producing good 
ci'ops of grain, grass, fruit, Sic, common 
to the northern part of the Stale. The 
soil, in gencial, in this part, is a rich 
loam, and the surface jjretty level. On 
the small streams, of which tiiere are 
many, (see Kackkt, St. Reois, and Grass 
rivers,)there are extensive inlervalcs,but 
on the larger streams, very little. The 
whole tract is covered with a he.ivy 
growth of mapic, beech, elm, bass, but- 
ternut, &c., with some oak and walnut 
on the low plains ; while in the swamp 
grounds are cedar, pine, spruce, and fir. 



The southerly part has many small ponds 
or lakes, and is more liilly, with some 
considerable hemlock. TJie situation is 
inland, but the soil is such as well to 
repay the industry and care of the far- 
mer. 'Ihe first settlement was begun 
in 1803, by Roswell Hopkins, Esq. In 
1807, it contained 48 electors, and the 
whole nuniber of families is now, 1810, 
about 70- Not one of 60 childi-en born 
here, have been lost. There is a grist- 
mill, saw-mill, fulling-mill, and several 
mechanic shops for the uses of husband- 
ry. Tiiere is a society of Congregation- 
alists, and a small society of Baptists. — 
The post road from Jgdensburgh to 
Plattsburg-h, leads through this town» 
as does also a turnpike i-oad from Black 
river, in Lewis County, to Malone, in 
Franklin County. There is also a road 
from the N. E- part to Keenc, in Essex 
County, and N. W. bay, on Lake Cham- 
plain. R.H. 

HouNSFiELP, a Post-Township of Jef- 
ferson County, erected in 1806, from 
Watertown. It is bounded N. by Black 
river and B. river Bay, E. by Watertown, 
S. by Henderson and Adams, W . by Hun- 
gry bay of Lake Ontario. The area may 
be about 27,000 acres. The («urface of 
this Town i.^ but gently uneven, the soil 
principally clay or loam, interspersed 
with sandy ridges, producing white pine. 
On the N. where Black river forms its 
boundar)', that stream lias some falls 
that obstruct the navigation, but furnish 
fine sites for mills. MiUcreek, a stream- 
let that runs into L. On'.ario, also sup- 
plies water for some mills a part of the 
year, and may be easily rendered im- 
mensely valuable for mills by a short ca- 
nal from Black river to increase the 
I quantity of waur. The settlement of 
j this Town was commenced in 1801, by 
] Augustus Sacket, .ind its jn-esent popu- 
I lation is 943 ; senatorial electors, 123. 
I Backet's HAUBon, in this Town, is on<; 
i of the best on l^ake Ontario ; it is a port 
of entry and delivery, has a Collector of 
revenue, and .i Post-(3flice, 78 miles N. 
of Utica, and 176 from Albany. The 
trade from this jiort is very coiisidera- 
ble, and it is selected by 'the United 
States for its naval force oji Lake Onta- 
rio, now confined to the Brig Oneida, of 
18 24 pounders. The Village of Buck- 
et's Harbor contains about 40 families, 
and is beautifully situated on Black riv- 
er bay of L. Ontario, 4 miles below the 
mouth of Black river. The roads to this 
tillage, though new, are pretty good. 
EC— llfll. 



210 



GAZETTPEER OF NEW-YORK. 



HoNEOT, a Post-Township of Ontario 
Cbupty, 16 miles S. W. of Canandaigua, 
Miicl 232 from Albany ; bounded N. by 
l,inia and Bloomfield, E. bv Bristol, S. 
by Naples, W. by Livonia. In 1808, Pitts- 
town, which had been or|^anized, with 
the County, in 1801, was divided into 2 
Towns, Honeoy of the E. part and Livonia 
oftlxe W., each comprising- 2 Townships. 
This Town received its name frem Hon- 
royLake, which is in the E. part; and 
it has also Canacadea, and a part of Hem- 
lock Lakes. Tlie outlets of these unite 
in the N. part, and supply abundance of 
jnill-seats, and fine tracts of alluvion. — 
The N. half is therefore an excellent 
body of land, but moderately uneven, 
and the S. is broken by sharp ridp^es of 
liills witli deep vallies, and the soil far 
less valuable. The timber of the up- 
lands consists of oak, walnut, black and 
white — chesnut, cherry, ash, elm, bass- 
wood, beech and maple ; that on the al- 
luvial lands and richest plains and val- 
lies, is principally confined to maple, 
foeech,elra and bass-wood, which grow to 
a very great height. There are 3 grain- 
mills, and 4 saw-mills, with some distil- 
leries, of grain and fruit spirits. A 
small library is of extensive use, and 
there is 1 Presbyterian meeting-house 
und 9 school-houses, in which are also 
held meetings for worship. Some iron- 
*>re is found. The navigable point of 
tv:onhocton of the Susquehanna, is 22 
iniles S., and the trade by that is con- 
siderably important. Most of the cloth- 
ing is made in the houshold way, which 
produced 18,543 yards of cloth in 1810. 
The whole population is 1372, with 87 
. senatorial electors, and 227 families.-- 
There are some ancient works here, as 
jn other parts of this country, but which 
conjecture can never trace to an origin. 
This Town was first settled in 1789, l)y 
tJideon and William Pitts, from Mas- 
sachusetts. JI^- 

HcDSOK, City, the capital of Colum- 
7>ia County, also a Post-Town and port 
of entry, is finely situated on the E. 
Lank of' Hudson river, 130 miles N. of 
:New.Yoi-k, and 30 S. of Albany : N. Lat 
42" 14', and 14' E. Longitude from 
New-York. The City and Township of 
Hudson are of the same extent, being 
bounded N. by Factory or Abram's 
creek, E. by Claverack creek or the 
Town of Claverack, S. by Livingston, 
\V. by tlie Hudson, along which it ex- 
tends about 8 miles, with a medial 
width of near 3 miles. The land is 
principally a stiff clay or argillaceous 



loam on the level tracts, and the princi- 
pal hills are calcareous, with some of 
shistic and silicious grit ; and there are 
some small tracts of round flint-stones 
of a good size for paving. The soil is 
not very inviting, and much of it is ver/ 
cold and wet. Becraft's mountain is a 
mass of lime-stone, filled with impres- 
sions erroneously imputed to petrifac- 
tion of marine shells. And Prospect- 
Hill is a high cobble that elegantly o- 
verlooks the City. The site of Hudson 
is upon a high point that projects into 
the Hudson, terminating in a bold rooky 
cliff, on each side of which are bays of 
considerable extent. That on the S. 
lies between the City and Mount IMerino, 
a lofty and romantic hill that commands 
an extensive view of the surrounding 
country. Mount-Merino is now con- 
vertedinto a farm, containing near 500 
acres, and the summit of the hill is 
about Igmile below Hudson. Claverack 
creek, which forms the eastern bounda- 
ry, affords the best of sites for water- 
woi-ks on which are erected valuable 
mills, and an extensive manufactory of 
woollen cloth ; and there are also mills 
and factories on Factory creek, which 
forms the boundary toward Kindehuook, 
which see. The mineralogy has been 
little examined. Lime-stone, and of a 
superior quality, is very abundant, as is 
common clay for bricks, though that 
used is not of the best quality. Lead 
has been discovei'ed in the S., some sam- 
ples of which have yielded 80 per cent, 
of good lead. The ores are in the form 
of galena, in veins of a hard silicious 
sand-stone rock, and the small hills 
hereabout have many indications of o- 
ther valuable minerals. A brown oxyd 
of iron is very abund.antly diffused, and 
nitre and alum are foimd in weak ad» 
mixtures with aluminous earths. 

Agreeable to the Census of 1810, the 
whole population of Hudson was 4048, 
including 88 slaves ; and there were 
536 senatorial electors. 

The City of Hudson, or the compact 
part, of which I am now speaking, is 
regularly laid out in streets and squares. 
Along the river, it is principally occu- 
pied Willi stores, warehouses, &c, com- 
pactly built, with some irregularity in 
the streets, which are adapted to the 
unevenness of the ground. But from 
the Market, just at the level of the hill 
or plain, and within 12 or 15 rods of the 
river. Warren-street extends nearly S. 
E. about 1 mile, the most of which is 
compactly and handsomely buiU. This 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



211 



sti-eet has a gentle ascent, and termi- 
nates at the public square, a handsome 
open space of pretty liberal extent. — 
On opposite sides of this street, about a 
half mile from the river, stand the 
court-house and prison, plain durable 
edifices of brick work. Parallel, and 
on both sides of Warren-street, which 
is the principal avenue and sent of busi- 
ness, are other streets also, built at the 
lower end, and with some scatterins^ 
liouses all along to show their continui- 
ty. These are all intersected by other 
streets at right angles, and of" good 
dimensions. The Town is handsomely 
laid out, and the lots are, in general, 50 
feet front and rear, and 120 deep. I'he 
soil of the compact part, is a stiff clay, 
or a fat aluminous or argillaceous loam 
Of the public buildings, little can be 
added to bare enumeration. There are 
4 houses of worship ; 1 for Quakers, 1 
for Presbyterians, 1 for Methodists, 1 
for Episcopalians, besides 2 banking- 
houses, a Mason's Lodge, and some 
common school-houses. And on Pros- 
pect-Hill is an Academy, a Iiandsome 
brick edifice, in a charming position, 
commnnding a very extensive view to 
the N., E., and "West. Here is also 
a handsome collection of houses and 
stores, situated on tlje main avenue to 
the Cit}', about a half mile from the 
head of ^Var^en-st^eet. The soil, here, 
is a cle.an and coarso gravel, in whicli 
wells of good water are supplied at a 
moderate depth. 

The whole number of houses and 
stores within the compact p;irt, includ- 
ing those on Prospect-Hill, is about 600. 
:Many of the houses are of brick, as ru"e 
the principal stores also, several of 
which are very extensive and valuable. 
The Avhole number of inhabitants may 
amoimt to 3300. Of the shipping own- 
ed here, I am not informed. Agreeable 
to the books of registry at Washington, 
the registered tonnage in 1809, was 
S625 87-95 tons. See Cosimkrck and 
Trade, p. 53. — As a trading Town, Hud- 
son probably takes the 4tli rank in this 
state, and the 3d in manufactures.— 
Considerable shipping is built hci-e, 
though this branch of industry is on 
the dtcline, and there is an extensive 
rope-walk. There are 4 distilleries, an 
extensive brewery, and a great number 
of various manufactures, besides the 
common mechanical arts and trades in 
convenient abundance. There are 4 
printing-offices, 2 of which issue week- 
ly papers, and stvcral bockstorcs. There 



are 2 banks with an aggregate capital ot* 
460,000 dollars. The woollen manufac^ 
tory on Claverack creek, owned by S. G. 
Macey, is said to be one of the most ex- 
tensive in the state, calculated to make, 
per day, 100 yards of cloth. Water is con- 
veyed in aqueducts from several springs^ 
the principal one being about 2 miles 
distant, just at the N. foot of a lime- 
stone hill, and the Town is pretty well 
supplied, having aqueducts in most of 
the houses. 

The roads that extend from Hudson 
into every part of the surrounding coun- 
try, are very numerous, the most of 
which are turnpikes. There are seve- 
ral comp.anies of firemen, well provided 
with engines and other means of safety. 
But few of the streets are yet paved, 
and none lighted by public lamps. 

Hudson experienced a very rapid 
growth, from the time it was founded, 
which was in the year 1784, the ground 
having been purchased for this purpose 
the year tefore, by Seth and Thomas 
Jenkins, from Piovidence in Rhode -Isl- 
and, with 28 associates. Between the 
spring of 1784 and that of 1786, 150 • 
d'j'elling houses were erected, besides 
wharves, ware-houses, shops, barns. See., 
and several works connected with manu- 
factures, 1 of which was a rope-walk, 
and the whole population had increased 
to near 1500 per.sons. Three years be- 
fore, this spot had been occupied as a 
farm, with a single store-house on the 
bank of the rrver. Hudson City is go- 
verned by a Mayor, appointed by the 
state, and by Aldermen and Assistants, 
chosen annually by the inhabitants. — 
The inhabitants also elect Town-Offi- 
cers, as in other Tmvns, who attend to 
the same dutie-s. G.G.,&A.C. 

HuBLET, a Post-Township of Ulster- 
County, 3 miles W. of Kbi^slon, 68 S, 

of Albany, and 100 N. of New- York. 

It is a long, narrow Township, Iieing 
about 12 miles long, and I'rom 2 to 7 
miles wide; bounded N. by V/ocdstock, 
E. by Kingston and Esopus, S. bv New- 
Pali.z, W. by Marbletown. Wallkill 
and Ron<lout creeks unite in the S. end 
of this I'own, and Esopus creek crosses 
it near the centre. The surface is ime- 
ven, except along the Esopus creek, 
where are extensive and rich alluvial 
flats, 'i'he inhabiiants are principally 
Hutch, the descendants of the early 
settlers, though variously, intermixed 
with Dutch families from otiier Towns, 
and some few Yankees, or recent emi- 
graats from the Eastern Stales, The 



212 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



improvements nre in the ancient style, 
and many of ilie houses are built of 
lime-stone, wlii.Ji abounds liei-e. The 
commons and patented lands have lately 
been divided among' the inhabitants, 
and lands are generally held by riglit of 
soil. There are 2 Dutch Reformed 
churches, 1 at Hurley, and 1 at Bloo- 
mendale. 

The Village of Hurley, contains 14 
well built stone dwelling houses, and a 
largfe new stone church, with an English 
school. The houses are mostly in one 
street, which is level and sandy. The 
church at Bloomendale is of wood. In 
1810, the whole population was 1333, 
v/hen there were 111 sen.-itorial electors ; 
there were also 88 looms in families, 
which made 12,910 yards of cloth for 
common clothing'. 

C.T,, N.T. 

llrNTiJfnTow, a Post-Township at the 
W. end of Suffolk County, on Long-Isl- 
and, 40 mlSes E. of New-Vork, and 200 
miles fiom Albany ; bounded N. by 
Lnng-lsland Sound, E. by Smithtown 
and islip, S. by the Atlanlic Ocean, W. 
by Queens County. It is about 16 miles 
in length N. and S., with a medial width 
of 8 miles. The N. part is hilly, but 
arable and tolerably prod\ictive ; and 
the centre has a high plam of poor 
sandy soil, covered with pitch-pine and 
shrub oak ; passing this to the S., there 
is a tract ot 2 to 3 miles wide along the 
sea-coast, which is productive and well 
cultivated, yielding wheat, rye, maize, 
barley, oats, flax and grass, but the fo- 
rest-woods arc of a diminutive size. 

This part is c'A\itA Ilmitinglon South,ov 
S. Huntington, from its relative posi- 
tion, and has a Post-Office of the same 
name ; JJafji/lon, is a very small Village 
in the S. E, part, or Huntington South, 
where Uiat Pust-Office is kept. 

Iluniingtrm Village, in the N. W., 
has the Post-Office of that name, an A- 
cademy, 2 cluirchcs, and a himd.some 
collection of houses. JJixlnlh Post-Of- 
_fice, is on the middle road. The N. oid 
has several bays, points of land, or 
necks that extend into the Sound, and 3 
harbors for shipping ; as Huntington 
harbor, Loyd's, and tJreat and Liitle 
Cow-Harbor. On Eaton's A'cck, the nor- 
thern extremity of this Town, there is 
a Liglit-House. There are several small 
streams that supply mill-scats, a)id tiiere 
are in all 10 gram-mills, 5 saw-mills, 3 
fulling-mills, and 3 carding-machines.-- f 
There are 5 houses of worship ; 3 fwr <, 
Presbyterians, 1 i'or Methodists, and 1 ij 



for Episcopalians. Tlie roads are nu- 
merous, and there are 4 that lead E. and 
W., in different parts, besides others in 
various directions. In 1810, the whole 
population was 4424, including 53 slaves', 
and there were 462 electors ; taxable 
property, 736,350 dollars. The marsh- 
es on each side of South I»ay, afford a- 
bundance of salt meadow grass, which 
is cut for haj'. Heie is also good fish- 
ing-ground, and the bay is much fre- 
quented by v/ild-fowl. 

B.K.H., J.C, 8t J.F. 

IIaa>"e KnAi KiLi.^ or Cock- crowing 
creek, a small mill-stream, rises in Coey- 
mans, Albany County, and enters the 
W. hank of the Hudson in the N. E. cor- 
ner of Greene Coimty,. at the New Bal- 
timore Landing. 

Haarlsm Village, see New-Yoiik, 

Haahlem Cheek, forms the E.boundary 
of New-York County, toward Westches- 
ter. See the Map. 

Hackstaff, or Hackstaff's Mills, 
Village, see Peru. 

Hackensack, a river of New-Jersey, 
which rises in Rockland County of this 
Slate, where it runs S. about 14 miles, 
and supplies many valuable mill-seats. 
P.S.V.O. 

IIakhlton Village, on the S,E. bank 
of the St. Lawrence, in Madrid, is a 
flourishing Village of about 35 dwell- 
ing-houses, some mills, &c. 

Hamilton Village, see Guilderlandt. 
It has 56 houses and stores, a small 
meetinghouse, 2 large glass factories 
and 1 small one. 

Hamilton Village, in Olean, Cata- 
raugus County, has an important po- 
sition, situated at the principal point 
of embarkation on the Allegany river in 
this Stale. It is handsomely laid out, 
at the mouth of Olean creek, and as soon 
as the roads are improved agreeable to 
the intention of the Legislature, from 
Angelica to this place, it will oflcr the 
nearest and best route for emigrants 
from the Eastern States to the Ohio 
country. A table of the route and dis- 
tances from Albany, is just handed me by 
a resident Correspondent, from which 
1 extract what fbliows : — Prom Albany 
tqiv'anandaigua is 208 miles ; thence to 
Angelica, 77 ; and thence to Ham- 
iltun,30; in all 315 miles to Hamilton. 
Prom thence to Port Pi-anklin, in Penn- 
sylvania, 104 miles, and thence to Pitts- 
burgh, 69 miles. On this route then, it 

U ^ but 488 miles from Albany to 
Pittsburgh, 173 of which is by an easy 
and safe nuvigation of the Allegany ri- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



213 



ver. But another gi*eat object secBs 
to have been in the views of the Le- 
.^islature, which has appropriated 
6000 dollars for opening a road from 
Hamilton to the outlet of the Cliatauqua 
l.ake, in the direction toward Presqu' 
isle or Erie, and New Connecticut. A.H. 

Herkimeii CouNTT, sec page 79. 

Heldehbehgs, see Mottntains, p. 9. 

Hungry Bay, see. Jeffersen County. 

HoPETON, see Benton. 

Hudson, River, (vne of the best for 
navigation in America, rises in the high 
mountainous region on the W. of Lake 
Champlain, in numerous branches that 
spread over the S. W. of Essex and the 
'N. of Montgomery Counties. The fex- 
treme northern limit of these streams, 
is N. Lat. 44" 5', forming what is usu- 
ally called tlie N. branch, but 1 shall call 
it Hudson river, as being the longest 
and principal branch of that river. — 
ScRoos River, or the N. E. branch, is 
sepai'ately described. From the same 
tract that supplies the sources of the 
Hudson, issue those of Grass and other 
rivers of the St. Lawrence, and of Sar- 
anackofL. Champlain. This country is 
yet very wild, and but little known, and 
the Hudson pursues a southerly course 
about 60 miles, v/here it meets Scroon 
river, in Washington County, Smiles N. 
W. of Caldwell, at the S. end of Lake 
George. About 12 miles S. it receives 
the Sacanda-ia, a large strean; from the 
W. across the N. end of Saratoga Coun- 
1y ; pursuing its course S. and East- 
ward, passes Glen's falls, and at Saiidy- 
Hill makes a short bend to the S. bear- 
ing a little W., whicli course it pursues 
to the Atlantic below New-York. Its 
whole course to Sandy-Hill, may be 100 
miles, and here it descends Baker's falls, 
and it passes several others, of far less 
magnitude, in its course to Troy, a dis- 
tance of 46 milee, where it meets the 
tide. Between "NVaterford and Troy, it 
i'€ceives the waters of the Mohawk, its 
Jargest branch, from the West. To 
Troy, then, its whole course, following 
its windings, is about 146 miles, thence 
to New-York 166, and thence to the Nar- 
rows 12 ; making in all 324 mile; Its 
whole course is in this state, exccj '. the 
distance from New-Jersey line, from 
which the W. bank is the boundary — 
Fiom its mouth to Hudson, it is naviga- 
ted by the largest ships ; and it opens a 
good sloop navigation to Alb;i^", \vh-'re 
the common tides are little ... 're u 
1 foot, which is 16(J miles from Ne. - 



To:t , 



i;.-.U 



miles above Albany, where the ustial tides 
may be said to terminate in a gentla 
swell without reversing the current. See 
pages 8, and 85, for other observations 
on this river, and see also Albany City- 
The combined action of the tides, arri- 
ving in the Hudson by East River and 
the Narrows, at different periods, cari'ies 
the swell upward at the rate of 15 to near 
25 miles an hour ; and this circumstance 
clearly evinces a high superiority of o- 
ceanic influence in the Hudson. Swift sail- 
ing vessels, leaving New-York at young- 
flood,have repeatedly run through to Al- 
bany with the same flood-tide. The time 
of high-water, is the same at PoUopell 
Island, at the northern limit of the High- 
lands, as atNew-Yoi-k; at Albany it is 
3 h. 30 minutes later. For the height 
of the tides, see the various Towns on 
the Hudson. And for a genei'al enume- 
ration of the numerous streams that fall 
into it, see pajre 11, Offish, the Hud- 
son does not afford a vei-y great variety. 
But sturgeon, shad, and herring, ascend 
it in the spring, and are taken in vast a- 
bundance. The salmouhas longsince dis- 
appeared in this river, as it seems about 
to do in Connecticut river. But there 
is a considerable variety of small fish„ 
such as bass, the white and yellow 
perch, iic. 

The passage of this river through tlie 
Highlands, without any impediment to 
its navigation, save that of a crooked 
though deep, and in some places a nar- 
row channel, is a singular fact in ge- 
ography, and it affords a pleasing diver- 
sity ©r scenery. The Highlands are a- 
bout 16 miles wide, and its hills and 
mountains present many features of vast 
sublimity. The water is but seldom salt 
or brackish atPoughkeepsie, and water- 
casks are oftew filled below the High- 
lands. For the facilities of travelling 
on this river, and with great ease, coil" 
venience, and dispatch, see Albany. 

Hanover, see Paris. 

Harbor-Hili., see NoRTu-HEMrsTEAB. 

Hahtsville, se» W askivgton. 

Haver Island, see Watervliet. 

Hell-Gate, or Hurlgatk, is a narrow 
and difficult strait in East River, 8 miles 
from New- York, formed by projecting 
rocks that confine the water to a nar- 
row and crooked channel, occasioning 
strong eddy currents. There is a suf- 
ficient depth of water for any vessel, 
but the passage of large ships should 
only be attempted with the most skiU'ul 
pilots. 

Heju'stead Plain, inQu(?ens County, 



2J.4 



GAZETTEER OF NEWYORK. 



is an extensive tract of wild savanna or "^ 
prairie, considerably elevated, extending 
along the S. side of the ridge or spine 
of Long-Island. AVhen first visited by 
European emigrants, it was an open prai- 
rie, without trees, and covered with high 
sedge grass, and a humble growth of 
dwarf shrubbery. Its extent Was reck- 
oned about 15 rniles in length and 4 in 
breadth. As it was thought of little val- 
ue, no separate grant was ever made of 
it, but the whole was attached in com- 
mon, to the adjacent tracts granted to 
many individuals. And no division ha- 
ving yet been made, it is now consider- 
ed as common property, belonging to the 
heirs of the ancient rights. Considera- 
ble encroachments are constantly making 
upon its limits, and with manures and 
skilful management, much of its borders 
are now under cultivation. That part 
which is not separately inclosed, serves 
for a wild pasture, and many hundreds 
of cattle, sheep and horses are fed upon 
it. This plain is the great resort of 
plover, a most delicidus bird, found 
here in vast abundance. And the New- 
Market race-ground was here, where 
jockies and horses performed many great 
feats. See Queens County. The Towns 
of Hempstead, N.Hempstead, and Oys- 
ter-bay, have each a portion of this 
plain. 

Hemiogk Lake, is about 6 miles long 
and 1 wide, situated in the S. W. part of 
Ontario County, and discharges IVorth- 
ward, and unites its stream with Hcneoy 
creek, which see. 

J.R. 
HoNEOT Lake, in the Town of Hone- 
cy, Ontario County, is about 5 miles 
long, N. and S., and 1 mile wide. It 
discharges at the N. end. Ho neot chefk, 
which receives also the outlets of Cana- 
cadea and Hemlock Lakes, and winds N. 
and W. to the Genesee river in Avon. — 
Its whole course may be 25 miles, and it 
is a good mill-stream. J.R. 

HopEWEii,, see Fishkili,. 
Htde Park, a pleasant, flourishing 
Village in Clmton, Dutchess County, on 
the Post road to Albany, has 40 lioufes, 
a handsome new Episcopal Church, and 
some other buildings. It is named from 
the elegant seat of Dr. Bard, in its vicin- 
ity. 



I. 

ISLIP, a Post-Township of Suffolk 
County, on the S. side of Long-I,«land, 



50 miles E. of New- York,* and 210 miles 
from Albany ; bounded N. by Smith- 
Town and a part of Brookhaven, E. by 
Brookhaven, S. by the Atlantic Ocean, 
W. by Huntington. It extends along the 
ocean 16 miles, and has a medial width 
of near 7 miles. Hinconcoma peiid, is partly 
in this Town, just in the N. W. corner. 
It is about 3 miles in circumference, 
shallow at the borders, but very deep in 
the middle, and abounds with a great 
variety of fish. It has neither outlet nor 
inlet, and there are m.any curious partic- 
ulars related of a septennial ebb and 
flow of its waters. There are several 
small streams that supply mill-seats, on 
which are 6 or 7 grain and saw-mills. — 
The soil is light and sandy, but manur- 
ed with sea-weed and other manures, is 
rendered productive. This Township 
still produces many of the wild deer, 
and is remarkable for its abundance of 
grouse or heath-hens, partridge, quail, 
woodcock, and an annual succession of 
water-fowl, such as wild-geese, brant, 
ducks, &c. &c. The roads are smootlt^- 
and pleasant, — no hills, — and inthedif- 
fei'ent seasons of hunting, fishing and 
fowling, its woods and waters afford em- 
ploy and diversion to great numbers of 
persons. There are several sma'.l isl- 
ands in the bay, as Cap-tree, Grass, Oak, 
and Fire-Islands, but too inconsiderable 
for other notice. In 1810, Islip had 885 
inhabitants, including 13 slaves, and 
there are 60 senatorial electors ; taxable 
property, 211,200 dollars. Among the 
records of this ToWn, which was one of 
the original English settlements, there 
is still preserved a copy of what is ter- 
med the Duke's or Duke of Fork's Lmus, 
enacted for the temporary government 
of the Province, about 1665. This code 
is contained in 2 small folio volumes, 
nearly entire, and they are well worth 
the attention of those who feel an inter- 
est in the progressive change of public 
opinion and common sentiment. 

A.S., S.L.M., &J.F. 
Indian Rivlii, called also, the W. 
branch of the Oswegatchie, rises in Lew- 
is County, winds across JefFer.son Coun- 
ty, and enters St.Lawrence County, a fevi^ 
miles above tlie head of Black Lake, 
tlirough which it runs, and meets the 
Oswegatchie about 4 miles above ita 
mouth in the St. Lawrence. It is a ve- 
ry crooked stream, and its whole course, 
includhig B. lake, may be near lOJ 

* Or,accQVding to one Correspvnden'. 4J 
miles. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



215 



miles. At one place, it approaches 
within 6 miles of Black River, and much 
has been said of opening a communica- 
tion by a canal : a practicable project, 
but whether good policy favor it, is 
problematical. See 1.e Rat. 

Ithaca, a Post- Village of 40 houses, 
some mills, &c., near the S. end of Cay- 
uga Lake, in the Town of Ultsses, Sen- 
eca County. It is 29 miles from Owego 
ill Tioga County, and 180 from Albany. 



J. 

Jamaica, a Post-Township of Queens 
County, on the S. side of Long-Island, 
J 2 miles from New-York, and 172 from 
Albany ; bounded N. by Newtown and 
Flushing, E- by Hempstead, S. by Ja- 
maica Bay, W. by Kings County. This 
Town occupies more than half of the 
width of Long-Island ; and Jamaica bay, 
in the S., spreads into the island. This 
bay embosoms several islands, which, 
with a tract in its rear, supply salt- 
meadow grass. Rockaway beach, which 
is attached to the Town of Hempstead, 
extends along this bay on the S. toward 
the sea, in front of the Town of Jamaica. 
There are some small streams for mills, 
and the range of hills that form the 
spine of Long-Island, range along the 
N. line. The main road from New-York 
toward the east of the island, lies along 
the S. foot of these hills, by the Village 
of Jamaica. In this Village are 3 hous- 
es of worship, and a considerable num- 
ber of dwellings, besides an academy 
and some other buildings. Here were 
formerly held the courts for the Coun- 
ty, and this Town has several times 
been tlie temporary seat of colonial le- 
gislation. The farms are under pretty 
jl'ood cultivation, and supply considera- 
ble quantities of various products for 
the markets at New-York. In 1810, the 
whole population was 2110, when there 
were 219 senatorial electors. Beaver- 
pond, near Ja«naica Village, is a hand- 
some little sheet of water, but is only 
remarkable for its race-ground. 

S.L.M. 
Jat, a large Post-Township in the N. 
part of Essex County, with aPost-OfFice 
141 miles N. of Albany ; and is bounded 
N. by Franklin and Clinton Cos., E. by 
Chesterfield, S. by Lewis and Keene, 
W. on the W. line of the County. Jay, 
Was so caUe4 i^ hoBor of or.'? of c'.vr beet 



citizeri8,"and was erected in 1798, from. 
Willsborough. The Sable mountain, 
the highest in this County, separates 
Jay from Chesterfield, Lewis and Wills- 
borough ; but W. of this there is good 
farming land. The principal part of 
the settlements, are on No. 2, old mili- 
tary tract ; through which runs the 
Sable river, abounding in fine sites for 
mills. There are 4 grist-mills, 5 saw- 
mills, 5 distilleries, a forge, and clo- 
thier's works. This Town is abundant- 
ly supplied with sites for every kind of 
hydraulic works, with timber and with 
iron ore. Along the Sable, the flats 
are pretty extensive, very fertile, and 
the country in general may be called 
healthy. The soil, is mostly a sandv 
loam. The first settlements in this 
Town, were about 1790, but the present 
inhabitants are mostly emigrants from 
the Eastern states within about 10 years 
past. There are about 180 families, 
and 66 senatorial electors. The noted 
cobble, called White/ace mountain, is in 
this Town, and overlooks all the coun- 
try for 100 to 150 miles. Montreal, at 
the distance of 80 miles, m.ay be seen 
from the top of this mountain, which is 
about 2600 feet in height. The state 
owns a large part of tiiis Town ; but 
the farmers own the soil on which they 
live. In the deep vallies, less snow in 
winter than is usua^ in this latitude ; 
but tlie consequence is a more severe 
exposure to early and late frosts, thait 
in the less mountainous Towns, and 
those on the lake shore, where there is 
more snow. There are 9 school-dis- 
tricts and 6 houses, and 3 religious so- 
cieties. The market for produce, is at 
J^eru £ay, 24 miles from the centre of 
this Town. The inhabitants are labori- 
ous, peaceable, good citizens. Taxable 
property, S52,784. Population, 181», 
1164 ; males 653, females 511, 

E.S.J.F, B.D.P. 
jEFFEnsoN-, a Township of Schoharia 
County, 20 miles S. W. of Schoharie, 

and 48 miles S. of W. from Albany ; 

bounded on the N. E. by Cobleskill, 
easterly by Blenheim, W. by Harpers- 
field in the County of Delaware, N. 
westerly by Otsego Caunty. It was e- 
rected in 1803, and named in honor of 
Thomas Jefferson, late PiTsident of the 
United States. The situation is elevat- 
ed ; for it sends small waters into Scho- 
harie creek of the Mohawk, and sup- 
plies head streams of Delaware river^ 
with Utsyanthe pond or lake fron? 
which the Dalawarc issue*, and ofCl\a,A 



216 



GAZETTE'ER OF NEW-YORK. 



lotte creek of the Susquehanna. The 
Albany and Delaware turnpike runs W. 
acoss the central part ; and a turnpike 
from Catskill, winding around the 
grand curve of the Gatsbergs or Cats- 
kill mountains, just touches the S. end 
as it enters Harpersfield. The inhabi- 
tants are principally farmers, originally 
from the Eastern states. In 1810, there 
■were 212 senato-ial electors, and the 

whole population amounted to 1740. 

The housi'.old looms, 93 in number, 
produced about 20,000 yards of cloth 
that year. This Town had very fev.' 
inhabitants prior to the Revolutionary 
\irar, und indeed can hardly be said to 
have been settled till within 20 years. 
The soli is good tor grass, and consi- 
derable grain is also raised . 

N.T., E.H. 
Jericho, a Post-Township in the S, 
E. co'-n<r of Chen;uigo Cornty, 20 miles 
S. of Xoriuich, and 125 or 115* miles W 
of Alb'Uy ; bounded N. by Oxford, E. 
by Otsego and Delaware Counties, S. 
by jJi-O'ine County, W. bj' Coventry and 
a small angle on Broome County. Its 
area is coTtputedat 48,000 acres. , The 
Susquehynna river enters near the N. E. 
coiner of '.his Town, and leaves it near 
the S. W. co'-iier. There are 2 turnpike 
l-oods, the one from Albany, and the 
otl"j. liom Newburgh, besides nume- 
roi's other roads j and tliere are 2 Post- 
Orticcs, <he one at Jerichp-Bridge ; and 
the .ither, on the .Susquehanna, 9 miles 
lower down, is calieA Bettsbnrgh Post- 
Office. At Jericho Bridge is a small 
Village on the Susquehanna, at the 
crossing of the Newburgh turnpike. — 
The soil is good for farming, with an 
agreeable diversity, and but very little 
ot vvuste-Jand. There is 1 house of 
worship ; and meetings for worship are 
also held ill the school-houses, of which 
there are 10 in tliis Town. The inha- 
bit.iiits came principally from the East- 
ern staits, and it is almost superfluous 
to add that common schools for the edu- 
cation of youth are well supported. 

There are abundance of mill-seats, on 
streams distributed over ihe Town ; 
and 22 baw-mtils, 4 or 5 corn-mills, and 
2 carding-machines are already erected. 
Jericho is pait of a tract of land grant* 
ed by this state in 1788, to the sufler- 
en» by former grants in the present state 
of Vermont, to which New-York had 

* My Correspondents state it thus ; — 
but the Post-Master calls the distance 
125 miles. Ji,D. 1811. 



laid claim. Those who had suffered in 
this way, as well as by aiding in a de^ 
fence of the laAvs of New-York, receiv- 
ed here a kind of indemnity. The 
whole population of this Town in 1810,. 
was 1608, when there were 117 senato- 
rial electors ; taxable property assessed 
that year, 162,761 dollars. 

F.A.D.Z., & W.S.Z. 
jERCSAtEM, a Township of Ontaria 
County, 20 nliles S. of Canandais^Of 
and 18 from Geneva ; bounded N by 
Middlesex and Benton, E. by Benton, 
S. by Steuben County, W. by Naples. — 
It comprises Township No, 7 in the 2d, 
and near half o+" No. 7 in the 1st range, 
and is 9 miles long E. and W., by 6 N= 
and south. In the W. Township, the 
N. end of the W. arm of Crookea Lake 
penetrates from Steuben County, and 
occupies the centre, receiving some 
small mill-streams ; and the E. bounda- 
ry is formed by the E. arm of the same 
lake, from the N. end of which is the 
outlet, that runs E. across Benton to 
Seneca lake. The surface is considera- 
bly hilly and broken, but with hand° 
some vallies of arable land, and few 
towns in the county have more of ele- 
gant diversity of view and situation for 
building spots. There is but one stream 
sufficient for mills, on which are 2 saw- 
mills and a grain-mill. This Town is 
now the principal residence of the Uni- 
versal Friends, or the followers of Je- 
mima Wilkinson, who now lives here. — 
They removed to this Town from Ben- 
ton, where tliey first settled, about 
1790, and now consist of about 50 or 60 
persons, as some Correspondents say, 
and others, of 50 or 60 families. These 
people are distinguished for their fru- 
gality, honesty, sobriety, and industry, 
but their numbers are on the decline. 
They live very much retired from the 
bustle around them, devoted solely to 
themselves. Jemima continues to speak 
in meetings occasionally, but sensibly 
feels the approaches of age. In 1810, 
the whole population was 450, with 44 
senatorial electors, and 96 families. 

N.T., E.S., & J.C-S, 
JoHxsBrHGB, a 1 ownship in the N. 
W. coiner of Washington County, erect- 
ed from Thumian, Api A 6, 1805. It is 
bounded N. by Essex County, E. by 
Chester, !S by Thurnian, W. by Mont, 
gomery County, and is about 13 miles 
square. This Town was first settled by 
John Thiuinan, Esq., the proprietor, 
with a number of otiier families, about 
1790, then 20 miles remote from any 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



217 



other settlements. The surface is hilly, 
the soil principally a lightkindof loam, 
good for grass and grain. The whole 
IS inclining- to stony, and is well wa- 
tered. The limbey mostly maple and 
beech, intermixed with hemlock, birch 
and some elm, on the low plains. The 
land is mostly yet in a state of nature, 
though there are about ISC^ families in 
the Town, 1 or 2 grlst-inills, several 
saw-mills, and a considerable number of 
common mechanics. About l-5th of the 
inhabitants, are Europeans, from Great- 
Britain, the rest principally from tlie 
Eastern states. In 18t0, tlie population, 
651 ; senatorial electors, 81. 

K.B. 

JoHjrsTo-wis-, a Post-Township, the 
capital of Montgomery County, 41 miles 
N. W. of Alba-ny ; bounded N. bv St. 
Lawrence and Franklin Counties, E.by 
Wells, Mayfield and Amsterdam, S. by 
Charleston or the Mohawk river, W. by 
Palatine and Stratford. Its extent N. 
and S., is 76 miles, and about 10 miles 
E. and west ; but the population is all 
on the S. end, while the northern part is 
clothed with dreary forests, with a soil 
that forbids cultivation. See Strat- 
7.0RD and Wells. Like those Town.^ it 
sends waters to the St. Lawrence, sup- 
plies small head streams of the Hudson, 
branches of Sacandaga river, and some 
other small waters. The southern part 
Js moderate!^ uneven, and the soil a 
strong productive argillaceous loam, or 
brown grit-mold. It has been settled 
about 50 years, and Sir William Johnson 
first led the way into its wilds with a 
few families from the adjacent settle- 
ments on the jNIohawk. In 1772, Johns- 
town was made the capital of the new 
County of Tryon, now Montgomei'y ; 
and its inhabitants suffered all the evils 
attendant on war, diu'ing that of the 
revolution ; nor did they enjoy any 
ritiiet till Johnson the savage leader, 
■with his horde of Indians and Tories, 
were driven lo Canada. War is nothing- 
else than the harvest of bad men ;- 

■when all the restraints of civil law are 
legally removed, that vice may rule, 
and violence oppose violence in cunning, f 
rraft, circumvention, fraud, — and mur- 
der be sanctioned by law. 

The Village of Jo/inst07V7i is 4 miles 
N. of the Mohawk, 42 N. W. of Alba- 
ny, on a handsome plain, skirted on the 
N. and W. by Canada creek, and on the 
S. by a low ridge of hills. Here are 
abQut 120 houses, the county buildings, 



an academy, an Episcopal and Presby- 
terian church, the former of which was 
built by SirW. Johnson. Calmatvaga 
Villaget near the Mohawk, was once a. 
residence of a part of the Mohawk In- 
dians,where their orchards of apple-tree* 
•itill remain. Here are about 30 hous- 
es, a Dutch Reformed church, and 
Cahna-iuaga Post-Office, 59 miles fronx 

Albany, on the western turnpike 

There is another church at Kingsbo- 
rough, an inconsiderable place, but 
known by tJiis local name, as is Tripe's 
hill, 2 miles E. of Cahnawaga. In 1810, 
the population of Johnstown was 6225 ; 
its taxable inhabitants, 817 ; senatorial 
electors, 577 ; and taxable property, 
908,640 dollars. 

J.C, &J.M. 
Jtr^yirs, a Post-Township of Seneca 
County, 20 to 35 miles N. of Ovid, and 
182 miles N. of W. from Albany on the 
great road to Niagara ; erected Feb, 
12, 1802, from a part of Washington, 
now Fayette ; bounded N. by the Towni 
of Wolcott ; E. by the Cayuga lake, the 
Seneca river, and the Town of Cato ; 
S. by the Seneca Lake and river, and a 
part of Fayette ; W. by the County of 
Ontario. Galen Post-Office is also in 
this Town. It is about 15 miles long 
N. and S., and about 12 miles wide, 
containing the military Townships of 
Junius and Galen, and Lots No. 6, 7, 8, 
9, of the Tov/nship of ftomuhis, and 
the 21 northernmost Lots of the tract 
commonly called the Cayuga reserva- 
tion. 'I'he whole area is computed at 
115,000 acres. The face of the country 
is level, the soil good and well watered. 
The. inhabitants are mostly emigrant.* 
fi-om the Eastern states and New-jerse} , 
There are 71 looms in families, whicU 
produce annually 20,274 yards of cloth - 
There Ave some indications of iron-ore, 
and several salt-springs have been found 
on the b:inks of the Seneca nver : a 
m.anufactory of salt in this Town yield-? 
a daily average of 150 busjhels. An en- 
largement of the works is contemplated. 
Junius contains 1 merchant-mill, 2grain- 
mills, 5 or 6 sav/ -mills, afuiling-mill, 2 
distilleries, and 2 carding-machines ; — 
and enjoys very great advantages for the 
erection of extensive water-vv^orks of 
every description. The Village of JV. 
Cmjncra, situated on the IV. bank of the 
Cayug-a Lake, about 2 miles above thp; 
ouilei, is a pleasant place, with 16 or 
17 houses and stores, foi-merly connect- 
ed with Cayuga, by t!ie Cayuga bridffe 



218 



(GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



of 1 mile in length. The ferry is re- 
vived and well regulated. Seneca Vil- 
lage, at the falls of the Seneca river, is 
fast improving, and must become a brisk 
trading place, as the country populates. 
Here is a carrying-place, and Mynderse's 
mills, with 15 houses. Junius is happi- 
ly circumstanced in regard to beatable 
waters. See the map. The Seneca 
turnpike runs through this Town, and 
other public roads traverse it in various 
directions. There are a competent 
number of common scliool-houses and 
schools, 2 congregations of Presbyteri- 
ans, and one of Baptists, but no houses 
for public v/crship have yet been erect- 
ed. In 1810, the populatien was 2251, 
•i he senatorial electors 177- The out- 
let of Canandaigua lake crosses this 
Town eastward. 

W.M. 

.Tajiesvilliv, a Post-Village of Man- 
xitjs, Onondaga County, formerly called 
Sinai. 

jEiTEnso:!T CotTiiTTT, sce p. 80. 

Jefferson, or Scawas V., see Fayette. 

jEHicao, Post-Office, see Oister-Bat. 

Jekusaeem, Post-Office, see Benton. 

Jounstown, a small Village in Li- 
vingston. 



K. 

KEEJ^E, a large and wild Township 
i.ear the N. W. extremity of Essex Coun- 
ty, erected in 1808, from Elizabeth-Town 
and Jay ; bounded N. by Jay, E. by Eli- 
zabeth-Town, S. by Scroon or Scaroon, 
"W. on the W. line of Essex County ; 
being about 24 miles, E. and W., and 20 
wide. The surface is diversified with 
moimtains, hills, vallies and plains, 
though the greatest part is very broken. 
In the S. part, the La Sable, or Sandy 
Mountain, rises to a great height, rug- 
ged, and uncommonly bold, stretches a- 
cross Jay, and rises into the noted White- 
face, which see. 

In this Town are the extreme sources 
of the Hudson river; and it gives rise to 
some waters of La Sable, and Saranack 
rivers, which enter Lake Champlain ; as 
also the Racket river, which enters the 
St. Lawrence near the N. boundary of 
the state. That it is highland, may be 
learned fi'om these circumstances ; while 
the roughness and rtide wildness of sur- 
face can only be faintly delineated in a 
brief description. 



There are 2 small Lakes in Keene, and 
several ponds : The Saranack lake, on 
the W. line, being 15 miles in circum- 
ference, clear, and transparent, sur- 
rounded by high hills, and contains 52 
islands : Lake Placid, in the N. pait, 
contains about 1700 acres, and both are 
well stored with fish. Streams of a 
good size for mills, are plentifully sup- 
plied, as are falls, some of which are ve- 
ry high and merit separate descriptions. 
The settlements in this Town are prin- 
cipally in two parts ; — that called the 
Flats, on the branch of the Sable river, 
settled in 1797, contains | of the inhab- 
itants, has 2 grist-mills, 3 saw-mills, 2 
school-houses, and a distillery : the oth- 
er, called the Great Plams, has 1 savir 
and grist-mill, and a forge is now build- 
ing. Iron ore abounds. This settle- 
ment commenced in 1804, and the coun- 
try is elevated, pleasant and healthy.— 
There are 37 senatorial electors, about 
125 families ; and by the census of 1810, 
642 inhabitants : 338 males, 304 females. 
The taxable property this year, S64,222. 
The Elba Iron & Steel Company, with a 
capital of 100,000 dollars, is establish- 
ing extensive works in this Town.— 
This company contemplate works on a 
large scale, for the manufacture of iron, 
steel, hollow-ware, n^il-rods and sheet- 
iron. Tlie works are on a branch of 
Sable River, and surrounded by vast for- 
ests of wood. Charcoal is now purchas- 
ed for 3 cents per bushel. 

J.D., B.D.P., & A.M.L 
KiNDEKHOOK, a Post-TowHship in the 
N. W. corner of Columbia County, 10 
miles N. of Hudson, and 20 S. of Albany ; 
bounded N. by Rensselaer County, E. by 
Chatham, S. by Claverack and Hudson, 
W. by the river Hudson. Its extent N. 
and S., is 11 miles, and its medial width 
may be 7. Washed on the W. by the 
Hudson, it enjoys the navigation of that 
river, and has several landings with 
stores, sloops, &c. The soil of this Town 
is good in general, thoiigh various in 
quality and richness. Its surface may 
be called level, but in the E. are ledges 
of slate and lime-stone, moderately ele- 
vated, and capable of cultivation. It is 
an open champaign, with gentle swells, 
and large tracts of pine-plain, on a fine 
siJicious sand or gravel, tracts of clay, 
of shistic gravel, of loam, and of alluvi- 
on. There are few better Townships 
for agriculture, though much of its soil 
appears exhausted, and timber is very 
scarce, owing to bud management.—- 
But its agriculture is rapidly improvingj 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK, 



219 



snd the use of Gypsum as a manure, 
with the introduction of select breeds 
of domestic stock, particularly sheep, 
have characterized a new era in agri- 
culture, with a spirit of improvement, 
w*dely ditfused. Kinderhook creek, one 
of the best streams for mills in the state, 
enters abotit the centre of the E. line, 
and runs W. and S. near 10 miles, where 
it meets Claverack creek, near the Hud- 
son. In the N., it has fine alluvial flats, 
and the S. half winds a serpentine course 
in a deep .^ulf, apparently worn in the 
rocks, where are. many falls and rapids. 
There are several small ponds, and Fish 
lake or pond, on the E. line, larger than 
all the rest, may be near 4 miles in cir- 
cumference. Iron ore is produced here, 
but is not wrought into iron, because of 
the scarcity of fuel. Lime-stone is plen- 
ty, and there are ledges of slate also, 
with a variety of clays. Some red ox- 
yds of iron are found that promise fu- 
ture value as pigments for paints. There 
are a great number of mills of various 
kinds, and an extensive Cotton Factory 
at Columbla-Ville in the south. This 
manufactory is on the N. side of Abram's 
or Factory creek, 4 miles N. of Hudson, i 
and employs 1500 spindles, and manu- 
factured 55000 pounds of cotton wool in 
1812. There are 2 paper-mills, which 
made 3583 reams of paper, and 127 gross 
of press-papers ; 2 fulling-mills, and 4 
carding-machivies, besides grain and 
saw-mills, and a plaster-mill. .There 
are 10 grain-mills on Kinderiicok creek. 
There are 12 school-houses, 2 of which, 
1 at Kinderhook Village, and 1 at the 
Landing, are very large and respectable, 
dignified with the name of Academies. 
In each of these are 70 scholars, and in 
all, 465 are annually taught the rudi- 
ments of common learning. Near the 
centre of the Town, on an extensive and 
beautiful plain, is the Village of Kin- 
derhook. It is situated on the W. side 
of the creek, on the old post-road to Al- 
bany, 12 miles N. of Hudson, and 22 
from Albany. Here are 20 or 30 dwell- 
ings, several of which, in the style of 
country-seats, are very elegant, several 
stores, shops, &c. a church, and an acad- 
emy. 

About 5 miles W. of this, is Kinder- 
hook Landing, where are 15 dwellings, 
several stoz'es, shops,&c., but its trade is 
declining. In 1810, the whole popula- 
tion was 3709, including 302 slaves, and 
there were 351 senatorial electors. 

Kinderhook, was settled at an early 
period of our history, by some Dutch 



and Swedish families. Its name is of 
curious origin, and signifies Children's 
corner, or point ; so called from the num- 
ber of children belonging to a Swedish 
family that anciently lived on a point of 
land about half a mile above the present 
upper Landing. Several of their de- 
scendants of the 4th generation are now 
living, and from 60 to 80 years of age. 
G.G. & D.V.K. 
KiJTGSBUHT, a half-shire Township of 
Washington County, on the E. side of 
the Hudson, 55 miles N. of Albany ; 
j bounded N. by Fort-Anne, E. by Hart- 
ford, S. by Argyle, \V. by Queensbury, 
and a short distance by Hudson river or 
the Co. of Saratoga. The general surface 
is very level, and the soil either a light 
sand or sandy loam, or a stiff clay, with 
some tracts of gravelly loam. The S. W. 
partis sandy, and in the N. and N.E., 
clay predominates. It is, however, a 
pretty good tract for farming, and i'j 
under very good cultivation. The roads 
are numerous, and the old post-road t<j 
Whitehall is much used. Baker's Falh, 
in the S. W. corner, near the village of 
Sandy -Hill, are separately described ; as 
is the Post Village of Sandt-Hill. This 
is a very handsome, compact Village, of 
about 60 houses and stores, besides 
some county and other buildings,sltuated 
on a high sandy plain, just on the mar- 
gin of the Hudson, 52 miles from Alba- 
ny. It is a place of considerable trade, 
and one of thepleasantest little Villages 
on the Hudson. The courts are alter- 
nately held here and at S.dem. At 
Baker's Falk are very superior advanta- 
ges for water works, on which are seve- 
ral valuable mills. The whole waters 
of the Hudson descend 76 feet v/ithin a 
distance of 60 rods. There are in this 
Town 6 grain-mills, 12 saw-mills, seve- 
ral fulling-mills and carding-machines, a 
bloomery and trip hammer, awd a wool- 
len manufactory. There are 3 or 4 hou- 
ses of worship, and IS school-houses. 
The whole population in 1810, was 2272, 
with 225 electors. Near the centre of 
this Town, on the road to Wlilteljali, 
and about 5 miles from San^ly-Iiiil is 
another small village, containing about 
20 houses, some stores. Sic. And about 
2 miles further N. is the spot v.here Piit- 
uam was defeated by the Indians. There 
are fine groves of pine, which supply 
great quantities of boards and other 
iumbei- ihat descend the Hudson, being 
made up in rafts at Fort Edward, from 
which place they run in safety to Alba 
ny. Logs arc al^o ruf'.ed, f.r.d m'an.v (,•' 



ii20 



GAZETTEER OT^ NEW- YORK. 



them go to New-York, and other princi- 
pal places on the river. 

Z.H.,J.B.,J.K.H. 
Kingston, a Post-Township, the ca- 
pital of Ulster County, on the W. shore 
of the Hudson, 100 miles N. of New- 
York, and 65 S of Albany ; bounded N. by 
Saugerties, E. by the Hudson, S. by Eso- 
pus, or Wallkiil creek, W. by Hurley. 
In 1811, Kingston, which was a very 
large Township, and contained a popu- 
lation of 5760 souls, was divided into 
Three towns ; — Kingston in the centre, 
Saugerties from the N. end, and Esopus 
from the S. Since this division, there 
iias been no census of the inhabitants ; 
but an intelligent Correspondent assigns 
2540 to Kingston, 2194 to Saugerties, 
and 1026 to Esopus, as the probable 
numbers. And on this ratio, the pre- 
sent number of senatorial electors in 
Kingston, would be 267. It now com- 
prises an area of near 50 square miles, 
extending 10 miles along the Hudson. 
U'he soil is good, and the farms are un- 
der good old-fashioned cultivation. Ma- 
ny of the houses are built of limestone, 
which is very plenty here and of a good 
<jualily, and the inhabitants possess much 
wealth. Esopus creek runs near 15 miles 
in this Town, and on the boundary to- 
ward Saugerties; and Aralkili creek, 
iilong the southeni boundary, has a 
coui'se of about 5 miles, so that Kings- 
ton is amply supplied witli mill-streams, 
and it has also several Landings on the 
Hudson, of very considerable business. 
It is a common fcatui'C of Dutch and 
German population in this country, to 
ijiuiiiply the distinctions of places by 
local names: and a Township of 10 
jjsiles square, iniiabited by those people, 
will have probably 10 times as many 
Jiames to designate parts of its area, as 
it would if inhabited by English Ame- 
ricans. Kingston Village is incorporal- 
*-d, and well merits scjjarate notice ; at 
i-'lalbush is a new Dutch Reformed 
church of stone : at Greenkills, in the 
b. W. corner, are several corn-mills ; 
and there are several Landings, where 
iii-e vessels employed in the river-trade, 
us Columbus, the Siirand, Twalf's kill, 
i^c, and at Eddy's cotton factory there 
is a very Jiandsome settlement. There 
are several bridges across Esopus crtek, 
baw creek, and W'alkill creek. The 
common lands, or those held in trust 
for the Town, are principally leased by 
the Trustees, in perpetuity, and the 
nther lands are licid j>y right of soil. 
Thire arc fcc\cruluiill;j tirvur.oui kjaijs; 



a potter)', cotton factory, and a manu' 
factory also of snuff and tobacco- 

Kingston Village is pleasantly laid out 
on a handsome sandy level, considera- 
bly elevated, on the S. side of Esopus 
creek, 10 miles S. of its mouth in t^e 
Hudson, and 3 miles W. of the Hudson 
at Kingston Landing. It is 100 mileii. 
N. of New-Yoi-k, and 65 S. of Albany, on 
the stage-road between these two places. 
This Village is incorporated, and con- 
tains 150 houses and stores, an academ}', 
church, and court-house and prison for 
the county; the whole population ia 
1810 was 1082. Tl>e public buildings, 
and many others, are of blue lime -stone. 
The comfpact part covers about 80 acres, 
handsomely laid out in large lots, with 
gardens, &c. There are also a fire-en- 
gine-house, market, 2 printing-offices, 
and a public library. The fiats along 
the Esopus creek, in front of the Vil- 
lage, are uncommonly rich and beautiful. 
The inhabitants are rich and not luxu- 
urious. Kingston was one of the earliest 
Dutch settlements in this State In 
1662 it had a settled minister, and the 
county records commence about that 
period. The Village was burnt by the 
Bi-itish, under Vaughau, in Oct. 1777, 
and great quantities of stores destroyed. 
It was then coomtonly called Esopus. 
C.T.&J.B. 

KoRTHiGHT, a Post-Township of Dela- 
ware County, 6 to 15 miles N. of Delhiy 
62 nxiles S. W. of Albany : bounded N, 
by O'sego County, E. by Harpersfield, 
S. by Stamford or Delawai-e river, W. by 
Meredith and Franklin. Its form seems 
copied fi-om the German civil divi- 
sions, except that none of its lines are 
circular. It extends from Cinu-lotte 
Creek and the Susquehanna to the Dela- 
ware, being about 11 miles ; and along 
the former 14 miles, the latter 9 miles ; 
and it encloses near one half, at the N. 
E. end, of the Town of Meredith. It has 
a turnpike road from Catskill, the prin- 
cipal market of the N. part of this coun- 
ty, as Kingston is of the S. The general 
surface is broken by hills and vallies, 
the soil ]>rincipaUy a chocolate coloj'ed 
loam, moist, good for meadow and paS' 
ture. The land is held by lease, paying 
annually about §12 1-2 per 100 acres. 
There are 2 houses for public worship, 
and 14 common school-houses. There 
are 161 looms in families, which produ- 
ced in 181u, 41,821 yards of cloth ; and 
there is 1 distilUn'v of whiskey, with I 
carding-machine and 2 fullmg-mills. 
'Hi'v ililiubitmiti ai-Q piincipally Irish, 



GAZETTElER OF NEW-YORK, 



22i 



with some Scotch and a few English. 
There were 500 families in 1810, when 
the whole population was 2993, with 
388 taxable inhabitants, and 1S154,066 of 
taxable property. 

N.T ,O.P.&C.G. 
Kaktat, Post-Office, see Hamfstead. 
Kr^DERHOoK Creek, one of the best 
streams for mills in the United States, 
is foi-med of numerous branches that 
spread over the N. E. of Columbia, and 
the S. E. corner of Rensselaer County, 
v/hich, united, run to the 3. W. throui^h 
the Town of Kinderhook. Here the 
stream takes this name, and runs 
southerly to Claverack creek, which it 
meets near the Hudson, and both lose 
t^ieir names for Factory and Major A- 
brani's creek. See Columbia County, and 
also KixDERHooK, Its v/atcrs are col- 
lected from a good farming country, 
■".vhere, wltii its branches, they supply 
abundance of mi ['-.seats. 

Kings County, see pagfe 81. 
Knappsburgh Post-Office, see Ox- 
vonv 



L. 

LAJfSIJVGBURGir, a Post-Town- 
isliip of Renss/^laer County, on the E. 
bank of the Hudson, 3 miles N. of Troy, 
and 9 N. of Albany ; bounded N. by 
Schaghticoke, E. by Brunswick, S. by 
Troy, W. by the Hudson. Its extent 
along tl;e Hadson, about 2 miles, and it 
is 1 mile wide, embracing the most or 
all of the river-hill. It is a small but 
Valuable tract of land, and comprises 
the incorporated Village or Borough of 
Lansingburgh, formerly known by the 
name of the " New City." The N. end 
is opposite the Village of Waterford, 
between which places there is a toll- 
bridge across the Hudson, the first a- 
cross that river, as we ascend from the 
Ocean. The soil along the river is prin- 
cipally a coarse gravelly loam, or rich 
mold, and the fiats are very extensive. 
The road from Troy leads along the ri- 
ver bank, and is one of the handsomest 
in the state. The river is navigated to 
the Village, in some seasons, with large 
sloops, but the tides are very rarely felt 
!iere, and Lansingburgh is rather above 
the present head of sloop navigation, 
though small sl«ops commonly ascend 
to this place. Great efforts are making 
to improv? the nnvigation, by deepening 



the channel, and by constructing dams 
to collect the water into narrower cur- 
rents ; and there can be little doubt that 
this will in time be effected. When Al- 
bany shall contain 100,000 inhabitants;, 
Troy, Lansingburgh and Waterford may 
probably be regarded as one great and 
continuous suburb of that Cltv. The 
Thames was once deemed navigable on- 
ly to the site of London, and there cam 
be little doubt that the Hudson may be 
made to extend a good sloop navigation 
to Waterford withm half a century. — 
Contemplating on this subject, I have 
been led to believe that the best way of 
extending the navigation of this river, 
would be found in an increase of water ; 
— and that this might very readily be ef- 
fected by rolling-dams across the lower 
sproutB of the Mohawk, near where they 
separate from the main stream. Sup- 
pose double the present quantity of wa- 
ter were thus thrown into the Hudson, 
by the upper sprout, at Waterford-Point, 
and which can be effected at a moderate 
expense ; the increased volume of the 
stream would soon produce great ef- 
lects. Nor is it irrational to suppose 
that, in less than half a century, it would 
so deepen the channel of that river, as 
to carry some inches of common tides to 
Waterford. The Vinage of Lansingburgh 
is handsomely seated on a very exten- 
sive and beautiful gravelly plain, on the 
E. bank of the Hudson, one mile belowf 
AVaterford. It is regularly laid out in 
streets and squares, and contains 294 
houses and stores, besides a Presbyteri- 
an, Episcopalian, Methodist and Baptist 
meeting-house, an Academv, and several 
other buildings. There are also several 
very elegant Mansions. A principal 
street extends along the river, on which 
are 150 of the houses. This Village is 
incorporated. In its rear are the river- 
hills and some pretty lofty summits, 
where Diamond Rock rises with a bold 
acclivity, presenting from its summit a 
most extensive and elegant view of the 
surroundhig country. This is a bare 
rock of petrosilex, uffoiding iTiany ele- 
gant samples of rock-crystal. Except- 
ing this vein, of considerable exient^ 
the rocks of the iiill are priiicipaily a 
fragile shistus. Ti\Q trade and otiier 
business of this Vill:-ge is very conside- 
rable. In 1810, The 'rliole population of 
this Town was 1656, including SB slaves ; 
and there were also 143 seiiatf.nal elec- 
tors. The' taxable property, as valued 
by the Assessors, amounted to §253,820. 
A nursery of choice fruit trees, owned 
29 



222 



GAZETTEER OF NEW^YORE. 



by the Messrs. Janes of this place, de- 
serves notice as a very useful establish- 
ment. 

Since the above was written, a Bank 
has been chartered at Lansingburgh, 
with a capital of §200,000, and the 
Banking-house is intended to be ready 
for business in the autumn of 1813. 

B.S.,S.G.,&EJ. 

LAtrnENs, a Township of Otsego Coun- 
ty, organized in 1811, from the N. part 
of Otego ; it is 12 miles S. W. of Coop- 
ersio-ivn, and 7B W. of Albany ; bounded 
N. by New-Lisbon and Hartwick, E. by 
Milford, W. by Butternuts, S. by Olego. 
Its area may be 42 square miles, and it 
has Otego creek running centrally across 
it to the south. The surface is broken 
by hills of a moderate height, present- 
ing an agreeable diversity of hills and 
vallies, with a soil of rich loam or mold, 
well adapted for grain and grass. An 
elevated ridge extends along the E. part, 
covered with pine, oak, chesnut, walnut, 
ash, &c., of great value in this country. 
There are 5 grain-mills, 6 saw-mills, 2 
fulling-mills and several carding-ma- 
chines. A mineral spring, lately disco- 
vered, has attracted some notice, but I 
have no account of its qualities, nor 
why it is used by people who resort to 
it. The Friends or Quakers have a meet- 
ing-house, and there are 8 or 10 school- 
houses. As this Town has been erected 
since the last Census, its population is 
not known by actual enumeration; but 
well informed Correspondents compute 
it at 1512. See Otiigo. A laudable at- 
tervtion to improvements in the breeds 
of domestic stoclc, in agriculture, and 
domestic and houshold manufactures, 
has of late m.arked the efforts of the in- 
habitants of this Town. ' And there is 
now hardly a family or respectable per- 
son that does not esteem it an honor to 
appear abroad wholly clad in cloths of 
houshold manufacture.' A very laudable 
pride, and an honorable distinction ; 
and it were much to be wished that these 
sentiments were widely difl'used, though 
decried by many as mean or mercenary. 
N.T.,E.C., &J.P. 

Lebanon, a Township of Madison 
County, bounded N. by Eaton, E. by 
Hamilton, S. by Smyrna in the County 
of Chenango ; W. by DeRuyter ;— being 
Township No. 5, as designated on De 
"Witt's Maps. It lies about 115 miles 
W. of Albany, and 35 S. W. of Utica.- 
erected in 1807- The surface is hilly, 
but along the Chenango are extensive 
intervales, and there is very little of 



waste land. The Chenango, runs through 
the E. part of lliis Town, and, with se- 
veral branches, water the whole, and 
supply plenty of mill-scats. There arc 
3 grain-mills, 9 saw-mills, and some 
other water works. The soil is light, 
easy of tillage ; and the timber maple, 
beech, birch, ash, eM, basswood, but- 
ternut, black-cherry, and some pine.— 
The inhabitants are principally emi- 
grants from the Eastern States ; and as 
the soil is excellent for grazing, they 
send cattle, &.c. to market, instead of 
grain. The roads are good, in this and 
the adjacent Towns. Cattle intended 
for a market, are driven principally t<) 
Philadelphia. The population of Leba- 
non, 1654 ; 271 heads of families, 2 
slaves, and 177 senatorial electors. The 
taxable property, assessed in 1810, 107,«' 
490 dollars. 

J.W.B. 

Lenox, a Post-Township in the K". 
eastern extremity of Madison County, 
bounded N. on Oneida Lake, E. by Onei- 
da creek, or Oneida County ; S. by Smith- 
iield, W. by Sullivan. It is situated 
about 25 miles W. from Utica, and 118 a 
little N. of west from Albany. Lenox 
was erected in 1809 ; formed of the 
eastern part of the Town of Sullivan, 
It was first settled about 1800, and con- 
tains now 1732 inhabitants, and 117 se- 
natorial electors. The taxable proper- 
ty, assessed in 1810, §85,156. There 
are 3 grain-mills, 5 saw-miils, a distille- 
ry of grain spirits, a brewery and 2 card- 
ing-machines. The soil is productive, 
a^d lime-stone abounds ; indications of 
iron-ore and gypsum have given veiy 
sanguine hopes of these articles also, to 
the inhabitants. The Seneca turnpike, 
leads through this Town, nearly central'. 
Emigrants from the Eastern States, 
compose about two thirds of the popu- 
lation ; — the remainder are of German 
extraction. So much of the population 
of the Oneida Indians, as belong to Ma- 
dison County, are in this Town ; but 
their principal Castle or Village, is si- 
tuated on the opposite shore of Oneida 
creek, in the Town of Vernon, Oneida 
County, which see. On ihe E., Lenos 
is washed by Oneida creek, and the Ca- 
naseraga or Cowasselon creek, which 
rises in this Town, spreads over a con- 
siderable part of it. 

S.S. 

Lee, a Township of Oneida County, 
8 miles N. of Rome, erected in 1811^ 
from the W. part of Western ; bounded 
N. by Boonville, E. by Western, S. !>,- 



GAZETTEER OP NEW- YORK. 



223 



Home, W. by Camden and a small part 
of Bengal. Its waters are some branches 
of Wood creek of Oneida Lake, and the 
main stream of Fish creek, which bounds 
it on the west. The population is un- 
known, having belonged to Western at 
the time of the Census in 1810, and now 
too variously computed by my Corres- 
pondents for any basis of even conjec- 
ture. The whole population of West- 
ern was 2416, and its senatorial electors 
275. The land is of various equalities, 
though in general rather moist tor grain, 
and there are abundance of mill-seats. 

N.T, 
Lewis, a newly settled Township of 
Essex Count)', erected in 1805 ; bound- 
ed N. by Chesterfield, E. by Essex and 
Willsborough, S. by Keene and Eliza- 
bethtown, W. by Jay. This Town was 
hardly settled before 1800, and now con- 
tains about 580 inhabitants, and 80 se- 
natorial electors. Like every other part 
of this County, the surface is much bro- 
ken by high mountains, though there 
are some considerable tracts of arable 
land. The timber is maple, beech, some 
oak and walnut, ash, elm, basswood, 
white and yellow pine, spruce, fir, &c. 
Tlie «s-ual agricultural products suc- 
ceed pretty well, and apples grow abun- 
dantly. The whole is well watered and 
supplied with sites for mills. Mount 
Discovery, a well known cobble of great 
tieight, is in the S. part of this Town, 
from which the view is svxblimely grand. 
There are 4 saw-mills, 2 grist-mills, 1 
forge, and another now building. Iron- 
ore aboiuids in the mountains, and yields 
iron of a good quality. Some good sam- 
ples of yellow ochre, have been taken 
from a spring in this Town, which has 
been supposed to yield water of valu- 
able medicin.il qualities. Agreeable to 
the Census of 1810, there are 537 in- 
habitants ; 277 males, 260 females. The 
taxable property, agreeable to the Su- 
pervisors' books, §54,323. 

C.J.L. 
LeRat, a Post-Township of Jefferson 
County, with a Post-Office, 548 miles 
from V\"ashington, erected in 1806 — 
bounded on the N. by Antwerp and the 
County of St. Lawrence, E. by Lewis 
County, Southerly by Black river, W. 
by Brownville, and about 5 miles on the 
river St. Lawrence, on the N. west. Its 
form is very irregular ; the greatest 
length N. and S., is about 25 miles ; 
its greatest breadth, about 15 miles. 
The surface is but gently uneven, and 
tilt; soil of sand ard in air,, car.y, and fer- 



tile. It is well watered by the west 
branch of the Oswegatchie, called in 
this countrj', Indian river, and its nu- 
merous branches. Its course is vei*y de- 
vious, but it furnishes many excellent 
sites for mills, having many falls. There 
are several small lakes in the northern 
part, from 1 to 5 miles in circumference. 
A large part of this Town, is yet in a 
state of nature. The first settlements 
commenced in 1803, by emigrants from 
New-Englaud and Pennsylvania. The 
S. western part is the most settled, and 
there the inhabitants have erected se- 
veral saw-mills, a grain-mill, carding- 
machine, 2 store-houses and 2 school- 
houses. The settlers principally pur- 
chase the right of soil. There is a flou| 
rishing settlement of Quakers, in this 
Town, about 7 miles N. of the great 
bend of Black river. The land is very 
fertile, a tract of about 3 miles square, 
watered by tlie Indian river. Here is a 
grain and saw-mill, a Quaker meeting- 
liouse, on a new and indifferent road 
from Black river to Ogdensburgh. This 
settlement is about 180 miles N. W. of 
Albany. The population of this Town, 
is returned by the Census of 1810, 1149; 
but this includes AnUverp, a Town re- 
cently erected from it, which may con- 
tain ciSQ inhabitants. The whole num- 
ber of senatorial electors, in 1810, 177. 
In the S.W. part of this Town, about 
I mile from Black river, JVest creek, a 
branch of Indian rirer, has its source ; 
and much has been said of opening a ca- 
nal from Black river, communicating 
with this stream. Judicious persons 
v/ho Iiave examined the ground, pi-o- 
nounce it practicable, at no great ex- 
pense, by raising the waters of Black 
river a few feet by a dam. From a point, 
about 18 miles above the mouth of that 
river, a canal of | mile would reacli a 
j boatable point of the waters of West 
creek, which is 5 miles in lengll), to In- 
dian river ; and tlie whole distance is 
said to be very level. But above this 
point, the Black river is not boatable 
for 10 miles, obstructed by tlie rapid 
of the Long Falls, and the Indian river 
has several falls, one of which is 38 feet 
perpendicular. 

M.K. 
Lltden, a large Post-Township, at 
the southern extremity of Lewis Coun- 
ty, with a Post-office, 115 miles N. W. 
of Albany, 33 N. of Ullca, 501 from 
Washington. It was erected in 1801, 
then in Oneida County, and in that year 
conttVined 145 electors. Tl^rc are uo'^', 



S24 



GAZETTEER OF NEWYORK. 



1810, 104 senatorial electors, and 792 
inhabitants. Leyden includes a great 
extent of unsettled land on the E. side 
of Black river; but the settlements are 
on th/; W. side, included within about 
6 miles N. and S., by about 9 E. and W. 
The surface is considei'ably uneven, the 
soil better adapted for grass than grain, 
and well watered by small springs. — 
The inhabitants came principally from 
Connecticut, and are characterized by 
all the industry and perseverance of 
Connecticut farmers. Roads are open- 
ed, and well wroug'ht. There are 5 or 
6 grain and saw-mills, a distillery of 
•\vhiskey, and 1 or 2 carding-machines. 
tNearly central, in the settlement, is the 
Post-Office, and several of the mills. 
X<ime-slone abounds, and quarries tole- 
rably well. There is one Baptist, and 
one Methodist congregation, who hold 
their meetings in school-houses, of which 
Ihere are 6 in this Town ; in 3 of which 
are schools through the year. 

B.D.M. 
LwcxsTER, a Township in the S. E. 
corner of Genesee County, 21 miles S. 
easterly from Bata-ula, and 240 miles 
from Albany ; bounded N. by Caledonia, 
E. by Ontario County, S. by Allegany 
County, W. by Warsaw. Its length N. 
and S. is about 16 miles, and it has a 
medial width of near 12 miles. It has 
the Genesee river across the S. E cor- 
ner, and it forms near half the length 
of the line. Besides this there are ma- 
ny small streams. The land is of a good 
quality, and presents nothing to demand 
aninute detail. The Gardeau Reserva- 
tion is in the S. part of this Town, in 
the form of an oblong square, embracing 
the Genesee river. In 1810, the taxa- 
ble property was valued by the Asses- 
sors at §161,429. The whole population 
was 927', and there were 14 electors. 
R.S.,N.T. 
LiBT.nTY, a large Township in the N. 
W. corner of Sullivan County, erected 
5n ) 807, then in Ulster County ; bound- 
ed N. by Rockland, E. by the Mongaup, 
or the T. of Thompson, S. by Bethel, 
W. by Delaware river, or the State of 
Pennsylvania ; N. VV. by Delaware Coun- 
ty. Its form is irregular ; the area 105,- 
240 acres. Population, 418 souls; 44 
senatorial electors. Taxable fast pro- 
perty, 209,806 ; personal, 3873, in all 
S21 j,679 The lands holden by non-resi- 
dents, valued at §185,362. 'Ihe principal 
streams a' e the Mongaup and the Colla- 
koon, with their branches. The settle- 
ijients ^e mostly along the Delaware 



and the other streams. Liberty is whol- 
ly within great lots N». 2, 3, and 4, of 
Hardenbergh Patent ; length about 22> 
bi-eadth 12 miles. Timber beech, ma- 
ple, ash, hemlock, and some pine. 

L.B. 
Livingston, a Post-Township of Co- 
lumbia County, 10 miles S. of Hudsoyi^ 
and 40 from Albany ; bounded N. by 
Hudson, E. by Granger and Gallatin, S. 
W. by Clermont, and W. by the Hudson. 
The S. W, is washed by Ancrara, or Roe- 
leff Jansen's creeky and Claverack creek 
runs 2 miles across the N. E. corner, 
leaving the central part without mill- 
streams, though there aj;e some small 
brooks. Its general description is found 
in the adjoining Towns, and to save did! 
repetitions, see Clermont, Claverack, 
&c.— This is one of the Townships of 
Livi?.-GSTo>-'s MAisron, and it was divid- 
ed in 1803, when Gallatin and Granger 
were erected from the E. part. It has 
the E. post-road between New-York and 
Albany, and a turnpike leading from Sa- 
lisbury in Connecicut, to the Hudson op= 
posite Catskill. The surface has a pleas- 
ing diversity, and a great variety of soilsj 
well adapted for farming and a great 
variety of crops, and, generally, is of 
an excellent quality. In 1810, the whole 
population was 1651, including 65 slaves, 
and there are 155 senatorial electors. 
The little Village of Johnstoiun is plea- 
santly situated on a handsome plain, 
near the geographical centre ; and Oak- 
Hill, opposite Catskill, is a handsome 
country-seat of one of the Proprietors 
of the Manor. Lands are held by leases, 
of various duration, but generally for 
the term of one life. There arc 62 looms 
in families, which produce about 13,000 
yards of cloth annually, for common 
clothing, with the aid of one fulling- 
mill, and a cai'ding-machine. 

N.T.,G.G.,&A. 
Litchfield, a Post-Township in the 
S. W. corner of Herkimer County, 10 
miles S. W. of Herkimer, 10 S. of Utica, 
and 88 a little N. of W. from Albany ; 
bounded N. by Frankfort, E. by Warren, 
S. by Otsego County, W. by Oneida 
County. Its situation is elevated, and 
it gives rise to the Unadilla of tlie Sus- 
quehanna, and some small streams that 
run N. 7 or 8 miles to the Mohawk. For 
the general character of its surface, soil 
and products, see Warren, the adjoining 
Town on the east. The 3d Great West- 
ern turnpike from Cheny -Valley to Man- 
lius leads across the S. end, and there 
are many other roadi;. J,t3 inl;Labitants 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



225 



are practical farmers, of domestic ha- 
bits, enjoy iiifr much of the blessings of 
farming' industry. Their houshold ma- 
nufactures of clothing are nearly equal 
to the consumption. In 1810, Litchfield 
had 414 families, 319 senatorial electors, 
and its whole population was 2533- The 
taxable property was assessed at ^171,- 
460. N.T.,DH. 

LisBos-, a Post-Township of St. Law- 
rence County, with a Post-Office, 605 
j-niles from Washington, and 220 N. W. 
of Albany; bounded N. W. on the St. 
Lawrence, X. E. by Madrid, S. E. by 
Canton, S. W. by Osweg'atchie, being a- 
bout 10 miles square. The population 
of Lisbon, 820 ; and there are about 100 
senatorial electors. This Township was 
first surveyed in 1799, and a settlement 
commenced in 1800. The soil is very 
excellent, mostly a chocolate coloured 
loam. A. rapid, (Galet on the ancient 
maps,) the first that obstructs the navi- 
55'ation, descendinjr from Lake Ontario, 
lies opposite Lisbon, and on which the 
Propreitors of the Town have erected ve- 
ry valuable mil s. There are several isl- 
ands in the St. Lawrence, opposite this 
Town, the soil of which is vei-y excel- 
lent. On one of these, Sto?iy Island, was 
a strong fortress for those times, erect- 
ed b}' the Fi-ench ; taken and demolish- 
ed by General Amherst in 1760. In this 
Town, about 3 miles below Ogdens- 
burgh, is an Indian village of 23 Indian 
houses, built for the Oswegatchie tribe 
by tile British Government, after the 
Revolution ; and when, of course, that 
government had no title to the land. 
The Indians remained hei'e several 
years after the settlement of the coun- 
try by the present proprietors, and were 
removed by order of the government of 
INew-York, on the complaint of the in- 
habitants. These Indians, driven from 
New-Johnstown, in Upper Canada, re- 
ceived this spot and improvements in 
exchange — from which, driven by our 
Government, they became destitute of 
a ' local habitation and a name,' and the 
Oswegatchie tribe no longer exists, tho' 
a few individuals remain, scattered a- 
mongst the surrounding tribes. — Lisbon 
is one of the original 10 Townships, 
purchased of the State in 1786. 

A.L.,&J.S.C. 

Lisle, a Post-Townsliip in the N. E. 
corner of Broome County, 15 miles N. 
of Chenango Paint, and 120 or 128 miles 
from Albany ; bounded N. by Cor Hand t 
County, E. by Chenango County, S. by 
Chenango and Ualon> W. by Berkshire. 



It is about 12 miles square, and has Ti- 
oughnioga creek running from the cen- 
tre of t])e N. line to the S. E. corner.- 
This stream receives Otsclick creek and. 
some others , and Nanticoke creek heads 
liere and runs S. to the Susquehanna, 
These streams supply abundance of mill- 
seats, and the larger one floats rafts in- 
to the Susqueiianna. The soil is gene- 
rally g'ood, but the surface is uneven . 
In 1810 there were 11 saw-mills, 3 grain- 
mills, 2 carding-machines ; 300 taxable: 
inhabitants, 172 senatorial electors, and 
the whole population 2157. The inha- 
bitants came principally from the East- 
tern States, and the settlements com- 
menced about 1792. A marsh of calca- 
reous marie which covers about 3 acres, 
aboimds with resemblances of small 
shells, which burn to good lime. The 
getting of lumber occupies too large a 
portion of the time of the inhabitantSj, 
and tlie soil is necessarily neglected, 
with the business of the farm. 

J.W.,E.C., J.K.E.Sl-50. 
Lima, a Post-Township of Ontario 
Comity, formerlv Charleston, name chan- 
ged in 1808, s'ituated 18 miles W. of 
Cannndaigua^ 226 miles westward froim 
Albany, on the Great Western turnpike 
road to Niagnra ; bounded N. and E. by 
Honeoy creek, or the Town of Bloom- 
field, S. by Honeoy and Livonia, W. by 
Avon. Its greatest length N. and S. 
8 1-2 miles, greatest width 7 ; with au 
area of about 43 square miles. The soil 
is good, almost without exception, and 
its inhabitants possess much of wealths 
The great road from Alb;uiy, and the E. 
line of the State, to Bulfalo, leads cen- 
trally across Lima E. and W. ; — and pei*- 
haps no part of the whole distance pre- 
sents to the eye of the traveller so many 
pleasing and interesting objects, and 
such delightful scenery, as this road 
through Bloomfield, Lima and Avon. 
The Village of the same name has a 
great amount of business, and is rapidly 
increasing in wealth and population. — 
The farmers of this Town, in common 
with those of the opulent farming Towns 
adjoining, are making rapid advances in 
housho d manufactures, and in agricul- 
ture, with every department of domes- 
tic economy. Charleston received its 
name at the time of the organization of 
this County in 1801, and retained it to. 
1808. The whole population of Lima in 
1 810, was 1474, with 143 senatorial elec- 
tors. The houshold manufactures of 
that year produced 23,922 yards of cloth. 
—The inliftbitftnts are pri^icinally etni- 



!26 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOftJv. 



grants from the Eastern States — there 
were, in all, 236 families in 1810. 

N.T.,J.C.S. 

"Livonia, a Post-Township of Ontario 
County, erected in 1808, from the W. 
half of Pittstown, and Honeoy at the 
tame time from the E. half; situated 
about 20 miles S. \V. of Canondaigua, 
between Canesus and Hemlock Lakes, 
tt^mprising Nos. 8 and 9, in the 6th 
K^ange of Townships; — ^boimded N. by 
lAmSi, K. by Honeoy, S. by Sparta, W. 
by Sparta and Geneseo- Its streams are 
some small ones that fail into the above 
!Lakes. The land is good, but the set- 
tfements are of a more recen-t date than 
iy some of the adjacent Towns, and it 
bas nothing that merits peculiar detail. 
2n I8I0, its" population wasII87, with 72 
senatorial electors. The houshold ma- 
nufactures of I8I0, produced 15,938 yds. 
of cloth, from 60 looms. There are 
200 families. 

J.C.S.,N.T. 

Locke, a Post-Township in the south- 
ern part of Cayuga County, 23 miles a 
tittle S. of E. from .^iibiiim, 170 W. of Al- 
bany ; bounded N.by Sempronius, E.by 
Cortland t County, S. by Dry den, W. by 
€Jenoa ; being the Township of Locke in 
the Military tract, and 10 miles square. 
Fall Creek of Cayuga Lake, and the in- 
let of Gwasco Lake rise in this Town, 
and supply mill-seats. The general 
character oftiie surface, its soil and pro- 
ducts, ai-e so similar to the adjoining 
Towns,as to supersede the necessity of de- 
tail. The Post-Office was established in 
1811. It has two turnpike roads leadhig 
westward from Port Watson to Ithaca 
and Aurora, besides other common roads. 
The lands are lield in fee, and the in- 
habitants are industrious fiirmers, whose 
lands, and domestic roofs, supply their 
principal clothing. In 1810, the popu- 
lation was 2383, the senatorial electors 
308, and the Vi'hole number of families 
1?!>9. The taxable inhabitants SCO, and 
the whole amount of taxable property 
."ss valued by the Assessors, 100,532 dol- 
lars. R.P.,N.T. 

LorniAiNZ, a Post-Township in the S. 
E. corner of Jefferson County, 150 miles 
W. N. \V. of Albany, and 9 miles E. of 
T.ake Ontario ; bounded N. by Adams, 
Kodman, and part of Lewis County ; E. 
fey Lewis County, S. by Oneida County, 
W. by Ellisburgh. It contains 2 Town- 
ghips, Atticus and Fcnelon, on De Witt's 
Maps ; was first erected into a Town in 
2804, by the name of Malta, from a part 
«»■ Mexico, and ia 1808 tUe name v/as al- 



tered to Lorraine. The first settlements 
in this Tovv^n, were made late in l!l03 ; 
it now contains, 1810, 160 familes, and 
839 souls. There are 3 religious socie- 
ties, Congregationalists, Baptists, and 
JMethodists, the former of which has a 
minister, settled in 1808. There are al- 
so, 6 school-liouses, 2 grist-mills, and 4 
saw-mills. Except about 30, the houses 
are of logs, but the inhabitants are pros- 
perous, very industrn:)us, and of course 
peaceable and good members of society. 
The tirst settlers were, Elijah Fox,jun., 
James M'Kee, and a Mr. Balcam. The 
Town is healthy, well watered by a num- 
ber of creeks, of a good size for mill- 
streams, and a great variety of small 
springs and rivulets. The pi*oducts are 
those common to the N. western parts 
of the State, and in good abundance. — 
The soil is held in fee. Population, a- 
greeable to the Census of 1810, 812 ; sen- 
atorial electors, 92. 

E.B.,P.H. 
LouisvixLE, a Post-Township of the 
County of St. Lawrence, is 10 miles 
square, being one of the original 10 
Townships, incorporated under the name 
of Lisbon, March 6, 1801. It is bound- 
ed Northerly on the channel of the St. 
Lawrence, or by Canada ; Easterly by 
Massena, Southerly by Stockholm, West- 
erly by Madrid ; and was first erected 
into a separate Town from Massena, A- 
pril 5, 1810, being tlie original Town- 
ship of Louisville, as marked on the Sur- 
veyor-G eneral's Maps. Louisville was 
first settled about 1803, by emigrants 
from various parts of New -York, and the 
Eastern States. The soil is a rich loam, 
but gently uneven, and well watei'ed. — 
Racket, and Grass rivers, run through 
this Town and afford many convenicn- 
je« for mills, and navigation, with rich 
alluvial flats. There are about 300 in- 
habitants, but they neglect tlieir farms 
for the forests. The lumber tradcjhow- 
ever, is yet profitable, and tlie forest 
growths of pine, cedar. Sec, are immense. 
The Village of Racketon, is a new and 
flourishing settlement, forming in the S. 
E. part of this Town, at the head of Bat- 
teau navigation on the Racket river, 20 
miles from its confiu§nce with the St. 
Lawrence. At this place, immediately 
above the Landing, is a fall of the waters 
of Racket river, of about 15 feet, and 
excellent accommodations for hydraulic 

"works. Racketon is about 25 miles E. of 
Ogdcnsburgh : and,uniting its advantages 
for good navigation to the St. Lawrence^ 

i with those of its centi-al position in H 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



2S>: 



rich and fertile country, must become a 
rich and populous place. See Racket 
KiTtn. 

P.R.,&.S.Tl. 

LowviLT-E, a Post-Township of Lewis 
County, named in honor ofXicholas Low, 
Esq. ot'New-Yorkjthe original proprietor 
and a liberal patron ; bmiaded N. by 
Denmark, E. by Black river, S. by Mar- 
tinsburjjh ; being- the Townsiilp ofLvn)- 
i>iUe, on De Witt's Maps. At present, 
Lowville is the wealthiest and most po- 
pulous Town of Lewis County. It has 
a Post-Office, 520 miles from Washing- 
ton, 160 miles from Albany, and 57 N. 
of Utica. This Town was first settled 
in 1797} and its early inhabitants pos- 
sessed a spirit ofenterprize and of indus- 
try, happily adapted for opening the 
Vay into the forest, and which have gi- 
ven a very honorable character to the 
manners and habits of the people. The 
main road from Utica to King-ston ferry 
und to the St. Lawrence country, lies 
through this Town. In 1801, there were 
104 electors ; in 1810, 213 senatorial c- 
iectors, and 1643 inhabitants. The up- 
land, in general, is of a superior quality, 
and the intervales along Black river are 
extensive and very rich. A small but 
durable mill-stream, runs N. eastward 
across this Town and a corner of Har- 
TJsburgh, into Black river. At the cross- 
ing of the road above mentioned, is a 
considerable descent in the bed of this 
stream ; where are erected 2 grain-mills, 
5 saw-mills, anoil-mili, carding-machine, 
cloth iery, and a small air-furnace. And 
immediately N. of these, on a wide street 
and a spacious plain, is situated the Vil- 
lage of Lowville, handsomely laid out in 
squares. Here are about 45 houses, 
several stores, inns, and mechanics' 
shops, a flourishing academy, with a 
handsome wooden edifice, erected by 
private subscription. The hotel, is an 
elegant and spacious building, honorable 
to the proprietor, and worthy of the 
pablic spirit of the inhabitants. 

J.S.,O.W.,&.M.W.W. 

LrMBEHtAND, a large Township of Sul- 
livan County, bounded N. by Btithel, E. 
by theMongaup, or Thompson andDeer- 
Park, S. and W. by the Delav/are river, 
or the State of Pennsylvania. Its form 
j'j an irregular triangle, and the area may 
be about 85,000 aci-es. The valuation 
of taxable property in 1810, 105,094 dol- 
lars. Population, males 307, females 
207, in all 524. The principal streams are 
Ten-mile, Grassy-Sivavip-Brook, Bewver-'f, 
Srjioh, and a t'evy" others vi^h DRTncs;' 



almost as long as the streams themselves. 
The most of the mills are on the Dela- 
ware river, as are the settlements ; the 
largest of which is at the mouth of Ten- 
mile, where there is a handsome house 
of worsliip, several dwellings, a grain- 
mill and some saw-mills. This Town 
comprises from No. 1, to 30, and part of 
31 to 40 inclusive, of the 7th division of 
the Minis ink Patent : No. 1,2, 3, 4, 9i 
part of 6, 7, 8, of the 1st divisior. of said 
Patent ; and 71 and 72, of great lot N». 
1, of the Hardenburgh- Patent, 

LB. 

Luzerne, a Township of Washington 
County, bounded N. by Thurman, E. by 
Queensbury, S. and W. by Hudson river\, 
or the County of Saratoga, being 10 miles 
W. of Sandy-Hill. This Town was first 
settled about 1770, formed a part of 
Queensbury from 1788, to April 10, 179?, 
when erected into Fairfield, and the name 
changed to Luzerne, April 6, 1808 — 
In 1808, it had 83 electors, in 1809, &9 ; 
and in 1810, 85 senatorial electors, and 
in all about 200 families. Adjoinin<j,- 
the river, the soil is pretty good, ana 
the surface smooth, but becomes barren 
and broken as \fe retire from tlie Had- 
soii. White pine forests abound, SlwI 
bimbering,ov the gettingof lumber, such 
as boards, plank, shingles,&c., forms th-. 
principal occupation of the inhabitants, 
though some spars are also furnished. — 
Most of the lands are held by posses- 
sion, or lease. The possession Linds are 
the property of the State, and the tin- 
ber is too wastefuUy destroyed. It'i 
whole population in 1810, was 1015. 

W.R. 

Lyons, a Post-Township of Qatar I -> 
County, erected in 1811, from the S. end 
of Sodus ; 16 miles N. of Geneva, 19S 
from Albany; bormded N. by Sodus, f. 
by Seneca County, S. by Phelps, \V.. by 
Palmyra and a part of Williamson. It i* 
8 miles E. and W., and 7 N. and S. ; aud 
comprises Township No. 12, in the Isi 
range of Phelps and-fiorham's ptivchas'C, 
2 miles of tl« S. end of No. 13, with the 
go^re of land E. of them to Seneca Coun- 
ty. Its population is imknown, havir.j 
been erected since the Census ol' 18ld„ 
when thut of Sodus, was 1957. See Sonus, 
The soil is good, and it has abundance of 
mill-seats. j\lKd Creek vwns easterly a- 
cross the S. part, and is from 3 to 6 rod,; 
wide. There are several mills erected 
upon it, with locks in the dams, for th-e 
passing' of boats, carrying 100 to 156 
barrels. This stream enters Canandal- 
gun cr«kii\ rUc'ps. Salmon cxetk r:- 



228 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK, 



aes in the N. part, and runs N. into So- 
dus. There is a small handsome Village 
called Lyons, where is the Post-OJice, a 
Tiumber of houses, and considerable bu- 
•siness. 

N.T.,S.J.C. 

Ltsasdub, a Township of" Onondaga 
County, 20 miles northerly of Ononda- 
ga, 17 from Osweg-o, and 165 from Alba, 
ny ; bounded Easterly and Southerly by 
Oswego and Seneca rivers, W. by Cayu- 
s^a County, and a part of the Town of 
Hannibal, N. by Hannibal. A part of 
Fish-lake in the N., and of Cross-lake 
in the S. W. corner,belong to this Town ; 
and besides the above named rivers on 
■\vhicli it is bounded, which are naviga- 
ble, it has some small mill-streams. — 
There are 2 bridges across the Seneca 
riA'er, between this Town and Camillus, 
and roads of considei'able travel extend 
N. to Oswego. The population in 1310, 
624, and 86 senatorial electors. Lysan- 
der is one of the Military Townsliips ; 
and in 1794 a Toun of this name was or- 
g-anized, which included also Cicero and 
Hannibal, now erected into separate 
Towns. Hannibal in 1806, and Cicero 
in 1807. N.T. 

Lancaster Village, and r.o., see Ro- 

3IULUS. 

Lebanon, or New-Lebanon Springs, 
eee Canaan. 

LeRot, see Caledonia. 

Lewis County, see page 82. 

Lewiston, a Post-Village of Cambria, 
^Niagara County, 27 1-2 m'iles N. of Buf- 
falo, and 7 1-2 S. of Fort-Niagara ; si- 
tuated on the E. bank of Niagara river, 
opposite Queenston in Canada, and just 
at the Landing, or the N. end of the 
Portage around Niagara Falls, being the 
head of navigation from Lake Omario. 
Here is a ware-house and wharf, a Posl- 
Office and about twelve dwelling-houses, 
with a great amount of business. I he 
Ridge Road, or Alluvial Way, from Ge- 
nesee river, terminates here. Lewiston 
is situated just at the foot of the norih- 
ern terrace, that slopes towai-dLake On- 
tario, where must have been, in former , 
ages, the great Fall of Niagara. The 
portage extends from Lewisii)n to Fort I 
Schlosser, a distance of about 8 miles, \ 
over clay ground, and in wet seast.ns a 
very bad road. A.P.&J.H. 

LiNDSLETf-ToWN, P.O., SCC PaINTED- 

Post. 

LiNKLAEN Lake, see Cazenovia. 

Little Salmon Ckekk, is a southern 
branch of Salmon Creek of Franklin 

f>!:ntv. 



LiTERrooL, V. and P.O., see Saltna. 
Livingston's Manoh, continuing to 
be known as such, and frequently used 
as a general appellative for an extensive 
tract of land in Columbia County, '"e- 
quires for it a separate descriptio'.u 
The Manor or Lordship of Livingstoii 
was granted by the goveimnient of Eng- 
land, while America was a British Colo- 
ny, to Robert Livingston, who had been 
some years settled in this country, and 
who was a member of the British King's 
Council. This consisted of several dis- 
tinct grants made in the years 16843, 
1685, and 1636. In the year 1710, a- 
greeable to an arangement with Queen 
Anne of England, the Proprietor con- 
veyed a tract of 6000 acres adjoining- 
the Hudson, from the S. eastern part of 
the Manor, to a number of Palatines, 
who had served in her armies, and were. 
now driven from Germany by the French 
army, I'his tract constitutes the Town- 
ship of Geiimantown, which see, and is 
bounded on 3 sides by the Town of Cler- 
mont. In the year I7I4, a new grant, 
or grant and confirmation, was made ox 
the Manor to the original Proprietor, 
and erected into a Lordship, with the. 
usual privileges and royalties at that 
day annexed to Baronies. He was au- 
thorised to constitute a Court-Baron, 
to appoint the officers thereof ; and the 
Manor-tenanis were entitled to elect a 
Member to the Legislative Assembly, 
for the Manor, and without losing theiv 
votes in the County elections, whiclx 
privilege they exercised till the late Re- 
volution. This tract, inclusive of Ger- 
mantown, is bounded on the N. by Hud- 
son, Claverack and Hillsdale ; E. by the 
State of Massachusetts, and the N. end 
of the Oblong attached to Dutchess Co.; 
S. by Dutchess County, and W. by the 
Hudson. Its extent on the Hudson is 
10 1-2 miles, on the E. line 14 ; and the 
medial length E. and W. about 20 1-2 
miles. It is xwvf owned by several heirs 
of the original Proprietor, with the ex- 
ception o' Gei-mantown, and coustitute.5 
5 Towns in the civil divisions of this 
State : — Clermont, the property of Ro- 
bei't R. Livmgston, Germantown, Liv- 
ingston, Gallatin and Granger, which 
see. 

The soil of this tract is diversified, 
but commonly of a good quality, and 
but moderately uneven, though there 
are some high hills in the E. part, as 
Taiiconic, partly in this State, and some 
o ihers. It is well watered by x^ncram, or 
Roe Icff Jensen's, and ClaveracF"cveQ!:^- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



22^ 



and many small' rivulets. The iron of" 
Ancram has a high celebrity, excelled 
by none in America. The soil is better 
adapted for pasturage and meadow than 
for grain, but the habits of the inhabi- 
tants follow a blind guide, no unusual 
effect of ancestral prejudices. The ge- 
neral agriculture of this district is very 
inferior to that of the adjacent Towns 
in Columbia and Dutchess Counties ; 
and the comparative domestic economy 
of families is marked by a diversity of 
character that would seem to indicate 
ages very remote, in the scale of pro- 
gressive improvement, though there are 
many honorable exceptions. 

LoJiG, or Nassau Island, belongs whol- 
ly to the State of New-York, and extends 
eastward from the Narrows about 12 
miles below New- York, a distance of 115 
miles, terminating in Montauk Point. 
Its greatest width is near 20 miles, and 
its medial width may be about 10 miles. 
Oil the S., it is bounded on the Atlantic 
Ocean, and is separated from the Conti- 
nent on the N. by Long-Island Sound, 
and East Jiiver, contracting towards the 
"W. and mingling with the waters of the 
Hudson in New- York bay, at the city of 
New- York. The Sound, which spreads 
between Long-Island and the State of 
Connecticut, is of various widths, the 
gi-eaiest being about 22 miles ; at the 
mouth of Connecticut river, about 7. 
East River, at New- York, is o quarters 
of a mile wide- 
Long-Island is divided into 3 Coun- 
ties ; Kings, at the W. end. Queens and 
Suflblk, the last of which comprises 
more than two thirds of the whole Isl- 
and. It is mucli indented by numerous 
bays, for an enumeration of whicli, see 
page 16 ; and Gardiner's bay with seve- 
ral others, occupy an extent of near 30 
miles from near the E. end. These 
bays also encompass many islands, seve- 
ral of which are of very considerable 
extent. See the Map, and see also the 
above Counties, with their several 
Towns, very minutely described. There 
is a rocky ridge, denominated the spine 
of Long-Island, which extends from the 
W. end to llivcvhead. This ridge pi'e- 
s'jn;s some svimmits of considerable ele- 
vation, with broken ground that form 
Brooklyn and other Heights, known in 
the History of the Kevululionary war. 
But the liighest point is suppos'd to be 
3Iarbor-Hill, in tiie Town ol' N. Hemp- 
stead, Queens County, and ihls is found 
to have an elevation of 404 feet above 
tUe level of ■die tides. The Uuid on thg 



N. of this is much more uneven thaa 
that on " S., which is very level and 
sandy, but with a gentle slope to the 
south. Hempstead Plain, on the S. side 
of this ridge, is separately described, 
as are the most of the prominent fea- 
tures of this Island. The waters are 
stored with a vast abundance and varie- 
ty offish, and Long-Island has long been 
celebrated for its wild fowl and various 
forest game. Much of the land in the 
E. is a light sand, still clothed with vast 
forests of pine ; and in these are found 
abundance of deer. 

I have said that East River communi- 
cates with the Hudson in the bay of 
New- York, and tiiat it is formed by the 
diminishing width of Long-Island Sound, 
which opens with a broad moutli at the 
east, and receives a strong impulse from 
the tides in the Atlantic. As the Sound 
contracts, to the VV. of the broad ex- 
panse in front of New-Haven, and forpis 
what is called East Kiver, the Oceanic 
currents act with a force that increa- 
ses with the diminishing width of the 
stream. And this causes higher tides 
here than at any other place around the 
Island. Arriving at New-York about 3 
quarters of an hour earlier than those 
by the Narrows, tliis current drives up- 
ward along the E. shore of the Hudson 
many miles in advance of the other om 
the W. ; and thus the Hudson has two 
tides, which hardly unite tiieir action 
till they have passed Tappan and Ha- 
verstraw bays. See New- York County, 
p. 85. Hell-Gate, or Hurl-Gate, a dan- 
gerous and very crooked strait in East 
River, 8 miles N. E. of New-York, is 
separately noticed. 

S.L.M, B.F.T. 

LooNEXBURon, see Catskili.. 

Loon Lake, see Cui:ster. 



M. 

MJI)ISOA\ a Post-Township of Ma- 
dison County ; bounded N. by Augusta 
in Oneida Couniy, E by Sangerficid iu 
Oneida Co., and a s;nall pan of Brook- 
field, S. by Hamilton, W. by Eaton. Ma- 
di-^tn, is Township No. 3, erected iii 
1807, from part of Hamilton, and named 
in honor of his Excellency James Madi- 
son. It is 20 miles S. AV. of Utica, and 
113 W. of Albany. The soil is most na- 
tural for grass, rather moist, well water- 
( ed by springs, jui'i is j'iithtr Jai^v th;'.a 



230 



GAZETTEEll OV NEW-YORK. 



uneven. The Oriskany* creek, rises in I 
■this Town, as do some branches of the 
Chenango river. Trout, abound in these 
streams. This Town was first settled 
about 1793, principally by Yankees ; and 
like the other Towns in this vicinity, a 
good character belong-s to its inhabi- 
tants. In ISIO, the population is 2229 
inhabitants, 359 heads of families ; 4 
slaves. The taxable property, agreeable 
to assessment, §164,436 ; senatorial e- 
iectors, 156. The 3d Great Western 
turnpike leads through Madison, near 
its centre. The Congregationalisls have 
a handsome Church in Madison Vil- 
Jage ; and there is also one for the Bap- 
tists. There are a few Quakers, and 
some Methodists, The Masons have 
a Lodge, and there are about 8 or 10 
school-houses. There are 2 grain, 7 
saw-mills, 2 clothieries, and 4 distille- 
ries. Madison Village, stands on a branch 
of the Chenango river, and contains about 
25 houses and stores. 

A.W.F. 
MAHAnoKECK, a rost-Township of 
West-Chester County, 23 miles N. E. of 
New-York, and about 142 S. of Albany ; 
bounded N. by Scarsdale, E, by Harri- 
son and Rye, S. by Long-Island Sound, 
W. by New-Rochelle. Its length N. and 
S. is 3 miles, and its medial width 23 
miles. The whole population in 1810, 
496, when there \yere 28 electors, and 
96 taxable inhabitants ; taxable proper- 
ty, §143,539. The situation is pleasant, 
and there has lately been erected an ex- 
tensive Cotton factory, which promises 
n considerable increase of population 
and business. The buildings are of 
brick, and pronounced very elegant by 
my Coi-respondents. !Mamaroneck creek, 
in the E., and Shelldrake creek in the 
centre, supply mill-seats, on which are 
«:rected 1 grain-mill, 2 saw-mills, and a 
fulling-mill. A handsome bay forms a 
barbor for vessel's of 100 tbns, and the 
turnpike to New-York is very excellent. 
The Post-Office was established in 1812. 
The Quakers have a Monthly meeting- 
here,and the Episcopalians, Methodists, 
Baptists and Roman Catholicks liave al- 
so congregations and stated preaching. 
The lands are good, and held in fee. — 
The cotton manufactory is intended to 
be one of the most estensive in the U- 
nited States. 

D.R.84S.D. 

* Anglicised from Oh-risk, nettles, in 
the language of the Oneidas anil Onon- 

dagas. 



MAiiLBonouGir, a small Township in 
the S. E. corner of Ulster County, on 
the W. shore of the Hudson, 23 miles 
S. of Kingsl07i ; bounded N. by New- 
Paltz, E. by the Hudson, S. by New. 
burgh in the County of Orange, W. by 
Plattekill. Its medial extent N. and S. 
is about 6 miles, and it may be .3 miles 
wide ; the area abotit 18 square miles. 
The land is under good cultivation, and 
is productive of ail the common agri- 
cultural products of this region. The 
inhabitants consist of a larger propor- 
tion of English families than in most 
other Towns of this County. There is 
but little to demand minute detail, and 
I have no relish for fine-dra-wn descrip- 
tions ; nor can I hardly persuade my- 
self to as much of detailed repetitiot* 
as my task demands. The road of the 
Farmer's turnpike and bridge company 
terminates in this Town. There are 2 
houses of worshij) ; 1 for Quakers, and 
1 for Presbyterians ; — and about 7 or 8 
school-houses. In 1810, the whole po- 
pulation was 1964, when there were 13.'> 
electors ; there were also 74 looms in fa^ 
milies, which produced annually 22,939 
yards of cloth for common clothing.— 
The lands are held by right of soil. 

C.T.,N.T. 
Mahblf.town, a large and valuable 
Township of Ulster County, near ten 
miles S, \V. of Kingston ; bounded N, 
Easterly and Ya. by Hurley and New- 
I'altz, Southerly by Rochester, W. by 
Slianilakan, F«opus creek runs S. E. in 
the N., toward the E. corner, where it 
turns N. W. across Hurley, and passes 
King-ston Village in the Town of Kings- 
ton. Rondout creek runs S. E. across 
the ^. angle, and these streams with 
their brandies supply abundance of mill- 
scats, and are bordered by fine alluvial 
lands, long since known by tlie name of 
Esopus flats. The Rondout has one fall 
of 25 feet. Marble, of a superior qual- 
ity, finely clouded, and which quarries 
well and receives a high polish, is found 
here in great abundance. Near Stone- 
ridge,, a small settlement, there is a 
la'ge stone church, the front of unpo- 
lished marble ; there is another at Sho- 
kan, local names for small districts, as 
is also Tangore, where is a bloomery and 
a manufactory of mill-irons. The two 
cluuxhcs are of the Dutch Reformed 
order, and there is also a Methodist 
church. There are near 20 schools, (ia 
winter,) and several also are continued 
through the year. The Patented lands 
held in common in this Town, have very 



GAZETTEER OF NEW YORK. 



231 



Recently been divided ; and lands are 
Jield almost universally in fee-simple. 
The Navasink turnpike leads through 
■this Town, and the common roads are 
numerous and good. There were 250 
Jooms in families in 1810, which made 
that year §46,276 yai-ds of cloth for 
common clothing. The whole popula- 
tion in 1810, was 3363, with 340 elec- 
lors. C.T.,N.T. 

IMamakatiitg, a large Township of 
Sullivan County, lying in the S. E cor- 
ner, bounded northerly by Wawarsing 
in Ulster County, Easterly and Souther- 
iy by Oi-ange Co., Westerly by Thomp- 
son. It has a Post-OfRce at Jihominji- 
Inirgh. Its medial length is about 15 
miles, and its medial width about 7 or 
i5;— an irregular trapezium. The Shaw- 
angunk mountain extends from S.W. to 
N. E. through this Town, being a con- 
tinuation of the same ridge which 
stretches across Pennsylvania, under the 
name of the Blue hills. Its width here, 
is about 2 miles, and the eastern side 
admits of cultivation <]ujte to its sum- 
mit, while the western is much more 
broken and ledgy. The surface is much 
diversified, and the soil various, from 
the very best, througli every possible 
grade to the very poorest : The rich 
plain and the barren mai"sh ; the alluvial 
flat and the mounluin precipice. It is 
veil watered by several small streams 
iind springs, and contains 1 small pond. 
A large part of Mamakating is yet in 
a state of nature, clothed with lofty 
growths of white pine on the low lands, 
and the common varieties on tlie up- 
lands. There are ledges of lime-stone 
and slate, of a good quality. Tlie Shaw- 
arjgunk kill or creek, which forms the 
eastern boundary, is the largest, and 
much the best mill-stream ; and most of 
tlie mills are erected upon it, and on 
the eastern shore, thougli owned in Sul- 
livan County. Mamakating, or Basler's 
kill, or creek, rises near the N. end of 
this Town, and runs a S. course of about 
16 miles, into tlie Navasink creek or ri- 
ver, at Deei'park. These streams af- 
ford excellent trout and pike, in abun- 
dance. This Town was iirst settled 
more than 100 years ago, and the inha- 
bitants are a mixture of all nations, now 
computed at 1800 souls. Lands held 
partly in fee, and partly by leases : some 
durable, some for lives. It contains a 
Presbyterian, and a Baptist meeting- 
house, and 7 or 8 school houses : 4 grist- 
tnllls, 12 saw-mills, and a pretty com- 
tetest number of other machinery. i 



Bloomingburgh, in the N. easterly 
part of the Town, is the principal Vil- 
lage, situated on the Shawangunk creek, 
at the crossing of the Newburgh and 
Cochecton turnpike, 23 1-2 miles from 
Newburgh. It was first settled in 1804— 
5, and now contains, I8I0, 18 dwellings, 
4 stores, several mechanic's shops, and 
130 inhabitants. The situation is de- 
lightful, healthj, and a place of consid- 
erable trade. Burlingham, 4 miles W. 
of Bloomingburgh, on the Kingston road, 
is a pleasant little settlement, com- 
menced in 1806-7. The whole popula- 
tioji in I8I0, was 1865, with 147 electors. 
L.B.,S.R.B. 
Malta, a Township of Saratoga Coun- 
ty, 6 miles W. of Saratoga Court-House, 
and 25 miles N. of Albany ; bounded N. 
by Saratoga, E. by Stillwater, S.by Half- 
moon, W. by Baliston and a small cor- 
ner of Milton. It is 6 1-2 miles iu 
length N. and S., and has a medial width 
of 3 miles. In 1810, the whole popula- 
tion was 1438, with 158 electors. There 
are 2 churches, or houses of worship ; 
one for Presbyterians, and one for Meth- 
odists ; 7 scliool-hoases, and a small 
library. Baliston creek, the outlet of 
Baliston or Long Lake, runs E. across 
the S. end, to Round Lake in the S. E. 
corner ; and Saratoga Lake forms three 
miles of the boundary at the N. E. cor- 
ner. Mill-seats are scarce ; but there 
are 2 grain-mills, and'G eaw-mills in this 
Town. The soil of the W. half is prin- 
cipally a stiff' loain, and the sui-face a- 
greeably undulated ; — of the E. j^art, a 
light sand, and either quite level, or cu- 
riously broken by irregular hills and val- 
lics. In the W., the timber partakes of 
a great variety of deciduous trees, while 
the E. has extensive groves of pine. An 
intermediate range of mold or a sandy 
loam, presents an easy soil of light ara- 
ble lands equally well adapted for grain 
and gi'ass, and is probably the most du- 
rable farming land in tliis Town. The 
roads are laid on parallel lines that 
bound surveys, intersected by others at 
right angles, similar to those of Balls- 
ton. And Dunning-Street, so called, 
from the name of an early inliabitant 
who settled here in 1771, extends two 
miles eastward from tlie W. line to the 
centre, where is a small vill^ige, at the 
intersection of the N. and S. road. Here 
is a handsome open area, on a beautiful 
sandy plain, where are held the Town- 
meetings. The inhabitants are, almost 
without exception, farmers, and the ag- 
riculture and domestic economy very re- 



232 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



spectable. Round Lake is about 4 miles 
in circumference, and discharges Antho- 
ny's kill eastward to the Hudson. 

M.L.,A.A.,&L.H. 

Matfield, a Township of Montgome- 
ry County, 8 miles N. E. of Johnitoiun, 
and 40 miles N.W. of Albany ; bounded 
N. by Wells, E. by Northampton and 
Broada'.bin, S. by Amsterdam, W. by 
Johnstown. It is about 4 1-2 miles wide, 
and 20 long N- and south. In 1805, 
Wells was erected from the N. end of 
Mayfield and Northampton. Its waters 
are some small streams that run E. into 
the Sacandaga, a large N. western branch 
of the Hudson, and which supply fine 
mill-seats. Stony creek is in the N. part, 
which approaches very near the Sacan- 
daga, and the other in the S. part, both 
of which have several branches The 
soil is productive, and well adapted for 
grain or grass ; and it has an agreeable 
diversity of siu-face. In 1810, the whole 
population was 2065, and the number of 
sena'.orial electors 180. The taxable 
properly amounted to Sl'X),240, and 
there were 380 taxable inhabitants. 

N.T.,.T.C. 

Manht:!?!, a Post-Township of Mont- 
jromery County, adjoining the Mohawk 
river, 25 miles W. oi Johnsto~vii, 60 from 
Albany; bounded N. by Salisbury, E. by 
E. Canada creek, or the Town of Oppen- 
heini, S. by the Mohawk river, W. by 
the Town and County of Herkimer, be- 
ing about 6 miles square. Except along 
the Mohawk, there are no intervales, 
but the upland is of superior quality, 
and probably yields as much wheat as 
any Town of the same size in the Coun- 
ty. Its situation is high, is well water- 
ed, and healthy : — has no mountains, 
lakes or ponds, nor metals, yet discover- 
ed. The inhabitants are principally far- 
mers, though with a competent number 
of mechanics, and there are 'iOO fami- 
lies, principally of Dutch extract. There 
is one Dutch Reformed Calvin ist church, 
and a number of school-houses and 
schools. Four grist-mills, 5 saw -mills, 
2 fulling-mills, and 1 carding-machine. 
The first settlements commenced about 
the year IZrO, but the inhabitants were 
driven off during the Revolutionary war, 
and returned with the peace. — Popula- 
tion in 1810, 1444, and 221 senatorial 
electors ; when the taxable property a- 
mountcd to §229,107, and the whole 
rumber of taxable inhabitants was 221. 
IManheim has the great turnpike from 
Albany to tiie Western Counties, and 
Other common roads. C.F.,J.>I. 



Marxlanh, a Township of Otsego 
County, 16 miles S. of Caoperstown, e- 
rectcd in 1808 from the S. W. corner of 
Worcester ; bomided N. by Westford, 
E. by Worcester, Southerly by Char- 
lotte creek or the County of Delaware^ 
W. by Milford or the Susquehanna. — 
Shenevas creek runs S. westerly through 
this Town to the Susquehanna. The 
surface is hilly, but with rich interven- 
ing vallies, it has good lands for grain 
and grass, though in general better a- 
dapted for grass than grain. It is a 
^ood grazing country, well watered by 
springs and bi-ooks. There are several 
grain and saw-mills. A barren, wild 
tract of very considerable extent in tlys 
Town, has the name of Cromhorn hills 
or mountains. The State owns about 
10,000 acres here, principally on this 
tract, and which has very few inhabi- 
tants. The whole population in 1810 
was 1106, with 77 electors, 232 taxable 
inhabitants, and §97,903 of taxable pro- 
perty. 

N.T.,B.G.,&E.P. 

Masseka, a Post-Township of St. Law- 
rence County, on the St. Lawrence river. 
It is bounded N. by the St. Lawrence* 
or the U. S. and Canada boundary. East- 
crly by the St. Regis Reservation, S. and 
S.W. by Township No. 17 of Macomb's 
purchase, W. by Louisville. TJie. soil 
of this Township is very excellent, the 
surface but gently uneven, the timber 
along the rivers mostly white pine, on 
the uplands, beech, maple, linden or 
basswood, &.c. Grass and Racket rivers 
run through this Town nearly parallel 
with the St. Lawrence, and are from one 
to two miles apart. The Racket is the 
largest, and here about 16 rods wide. 
See those rivers. Near Lay's Falls, is a 
sulphur spring of some repute in cuta- 
neous complaints. There are some mills 
yet standing which have been erected 
about 20 years, and the above streams, 
furnish good mill-seats. There are 5 or 
6 mills, beside one or two now building", 
and about 75 families in Massena, and 
the number is fast increasing by emigra» 
tions from the Eastern Stales. I..timber- 
ing is a principal object with the inha- 
bitants, and it is said the lumber taken 
to Quebeck this Summer, 1810, by one 
person, will amount to §60,000, the 
timber all taken from his own land-— 
Tiie popuLation is computed at 500 souls. 
Unfortunately, agriculture is much ne- 
glected, a common case in lumbering 
countries. Spars of uncommon length 
)»nd goodness are X^sn from thtse fo* 



#^ 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



233 



vests, some of from 80 to 110 feet in 
length. The whole population in 1810, 
was 955, with 74 electors. 

A.L. 

Madbid, a Post-Township of St. Law- 
rence County, bounded N. on the St. 
Lawrence, E. by Louisville, S. by Pots- 
dam, W. by Lisbon, beinj^ 10 miles 
square. It is about 110 miles above 
Montreal, 60 below Kingston, and 250 
on the post-route, about N. W. from Al- 
bany. The land is level, fertile, and 
well watered with La Grass, or Grass 
river, and some smaller streams. The 
surface is gently undulated, the timber 
beech, maple, ash, pine, oak, elm, but- 
ternut, and some cednr, with very little 
■waste ground. The usual agricultural 
products are wheat, maize, pease, oats, 
barley, flax, &c., in good crops, and fruit 
succeeds extremely well. Madrid was 
owned by .T. Waddington, D. A. and T. 
L. Ogden, Esquires, of New- York; men, 
(say the inhabitants,) "of benevolent 
dispositions, well calculated to settle a 
new country, and who have used every 
possible mean to promote the interest 
and prosperity of the settlers." The 
whole number of electors exceed 200, 
and the probable population may be 6 
or 700. There are 5 grist-mills, 7 saw- 
mills, several carding-maciiines, fulling- 
mills, tanneries, one trip-hammer, and 
a convenient number of mechanics. — 
Tliere arc one Congregational, and one 
Baptist society, but no settled minis- 
ters, an Academy in considerable for- 
v/avdness, and a number of school- 
bouses- 

Hamilton ViUage, is pleasantly situat- 
ed on the St. Ijuwrence, opposite an Isl- 
and, contains oS dwelling-houses, 2 saw- 
mills, 1 grist-mill, fulling-mill, trip- 
Jiammer, Sec, and here is the site of an 
Academy jiow erecting. The mills are 
pwned by the Proprietors of the Town, 
and stand on a branch of the St. Law- 
rence, scpai'ated from the main stream 
by an island. Immediately opposite this 
village, is the rapid called Xe />e</< Saut, 
which materially injures the navigation 
of the St. Lawrence. Locks are con- 
templated here. '1 he dam extends to 
the Island, and cost more than §3000. 
A bridge is also recently thrown across 
this channel, here about 200 yards bro.id. 
The market, for the St. Lawrence coun- 
Ir}', is found on the St. Lawrence river, 
at Montreal, Quebeck, Sec, and being a 
natural channel for trade, will never be 
but partially diverted by prohibitory 
laws. A sin;iU village has also been laid 



out on Grass river, called C'rAumlms, but 
is inconsiderable at present, though its 
prospects are flattering. 

S.C.&J.S.C. 

MAnTiNSBrnoH, a Post-Township, andT 
the capital of Lewis Coimty, established 
as such in 1805; bounded N. by Low- 
ville, E. by Black river, S. and W. by- 
Turin. It consists of 2 Townships, 
Cornelia and Porciu, on De Witt's Maps, 
or Nos. 4 and 5, on Lay's Map. The 
first settlements commenced in 1801, 
by General Walter Martin and others, 
and the progress of its improvements, 
has been very rapid. Gen. Martin pur- 
chased Porcia, containing about 8000 
acres, and almost every lot is now under 
improvements, owned by actual settlers. 
Husbandry and the business of agricul- 
ture, occupy a large share of the inha- 
bitants of the Western Country; and in 
no part as new as this, is it more re- 
spectable, or pursued with better effect. 
The surface is moderately uneven, tho* 
feasible almost without exception, with 
a gentle descent to the E.— the soil is & 
rich mold. lioarinff brook, a good mill- 
stream, runs eastward into Black river, 
and afford^ good mill-sites. There are 
now in this Town about 150 dwelling- 
houses, 889 inhabitants, and 115 sen.ito- 
rial electors. There is one Presbyterian 
church, and 6 or 7 school-houses. There 
is 1 grain-mill, 2 saw-mills, a p.iper-mill, 
carding-machine, fulling-mill, and 2 dis- 
tilleries. The settlements .and the po- 
pulation of this Town, are almost exclu- 
sively confined to that part denominated 
Porcia, on the Map — the other part be- 
ing reserved by the heirs of Wm. Con- 
stable. Limestone, which qu.irries well, 
is plenty, and easily procured ; a speci- 
men of wliich is seen in the house of 
Gtn. Martin. 

Near the centre of this Town, on a 
healthy .and pleasant eminence, the Vil- 
lage of JMartinsbitrgh is seen to great 
advantage. Here ai-e about 30 dvy-elling- 
houscs, a Mark lodge, the Comity build- 
ing.s, consisting of a court-house and 
jail, a Presbyterian meeting-house, 2 
distilleries, a saw-mill, grain-mill, pa- 
per-mill, fuliing-mill and carding-ma- 
chine — several taverns .and stores, and 
a Post-Office, 144 miles from Albany.— 
M.irtinsburgh lies 48 miles about N, 
from Utica, and 34 S, E. from Brown- 
ville, on the main roads from Johnstown 
and Utica and Kome into the Black ri- 
ver count ?y, and the County of St. Law- 
rence. 

B.Y.,E B.,&W.M. 



234 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Masojtville, a Township of Delaware 
County, 24 miles W. of Delhi, erected 
in 1811 from a part of Sidney. Its po- 
pulation is unknown ; — that of Sidney 
was returned at 1388 in 1810, with 243 
families. See Sidnet. It has a turn- 
pike from Walton on the E. about 14 
miles, to Jericho Bridge on the W. a- 
bout 8 miles. Tlie country is hilly and 
principally vild, tliough it may become 
a good grazing country in general, and 
there are many vallies of arable land, 
with a strong soil. It is situated be- 
tween the Susquehanna and Delaware 
rivers, and has Jericho and Windsor on 
the W., or the Counties of Chenango 
and Broome ; Sidney on the N., and 
Walton and Tompkins on the S. l^last. 
■ — A Correspondent writes me it |ias a 
Post-Office, but I suspect he must be 
mistaken. 

N.T.,C».F.,&.C.G. 

Manlttjs, a Post-Township of Onon- 
daga County, 10 miles E. of Onondaga, 
and ISr miles a little N. of W. from Al- 
bany, on the great road to Niagara ; 
bounded N. by Cicero, E. by Madison 
County, S. by Pompey, W. by Onondaga 
and Salina. It is nearly 10 miles square, 
Manlius of the Military tract. The S. 
part is moderately uneven or hilly, the 
N. more level, and the soil of the whole 
is very fertile of grain, grass, fruit, S:c. 
In this Town are abundance of mill- 
seats on Limestone, Chitieningo and 
Butternut creeks, and a competent num- 
ber of mills erected. About one mile 
S. of Manlius Village, on the 2 brar.ches 
of Limestone creek, are remarkably high 
falls ; on the W. branch 100 feet, on the 
E. about sa. Between these branches is 
a Sulphur spring, strongly impregnated, 
and which, in common with several other 
springs in this vicinity, has a powerful 
petriiaetive action on bodies immersed 
in its waters. The inhabitants ai-e em- 
igrant Yankees,* or German and Dutch, 
from the Mohawk river, industrious and 
prosperous farmers ; Avhose houshold 
manufactures and domestic economy are 
very respectable. The population in 
1810, 3127; senatorial electors 234. — 
There are 4 Villages in this Town known 
by local names -, Maiiims, formerly call- 
ed Manlius Square, and Derne, stands 
at the junction of the Seneca and 3d 
Great Western turnpikes, 40 miles W. 

* A term much used for the people of 
the JKew- England or Eastern States, pev- 
Jecthj -well underHood, and familiar to evc- 
cj/ one in the United States. 



of Utica, where are about 85 houses, 
several mills, &c., or 150 buildings of 
every description. Here is a Post-Office, 
a printing-office which issues a weekly 
paper, and a great amount of business. 
An Episcopal Church is now building. 
Jamesvi'ile, a handsome Post-Village, 
formerly called Sinai, name changed in 
1811, is in the W. part, 46 miles W. of 
Utica, on Butternut or Jackson creek, 
where are mills, and about 35 houses. 
Near this is an extraordinary cavern in 
the earth, discovered by digging a well, 
which opened into a cavity that has been 
traced 30 rods under ground. Eagle 
Village, 1| mile E. of Manlius V., near 
the E. line of the Town ; and another at 
the centre of the Town, where are about 
20 houses, and a Presbyterian meeting- 
house. This is also vaguely called Man- 
Uus, though rather as the centre of the 
Town than as a Village. Within two 
miles of Manlius Village above describ- 
ed, which is on the boi-der of a deep gulf 
throug^ii which Sows Lime-stone creek, 
are 4 grain-mills, 5 saw-mills, 2 fulling- 
mills, 2 carding-machines, 2 nail facto- 
ries, an oil-mill, and a cotton and wool- 
len factory. Green Pond is a curiosity ; 
its surface being near 200 feet below 
the common level of its shores, precip- 
itous and rocky. Unlike the surface of 
a smooth water on alpine heights, where 
the reflection ef light shows a ruddy 
splendor like burnished gold, this has 
a mirror of deep green ; and it merits 
alike the attention of the scientific phi- 
losopher, and the merely curious tourist. 
J.O.W.,S.M.S. 
Marcellus, a Post-Township of Onon- 
daga County, 10 miles W. of Onondaga^ 
60 miles W. of Utica, and 157 W. of Al- 
bany ; bounded N. by Camillus, E. by 
Onondaga and Otisco, S. hy Spalford, 
and by Sempronius in the County of Cay- 
uga, W by Owasco and BiHitus in Cay- 
uga County. Its extent N. and S. is 11 
miles, and 9 1-2 E. and W. This Town 
embraces about half the length of Sken- 
eateles and Otisco Lakes, which dis- 
charge northward, in streams of a good 
size tor mills, and abounding with fine 
sites. The surface is gently undulated 
•■ ith swells of a moderate elevation, and 
the soil is rich and fertile- There are 
edges of fine blue limestone, of an ex- 
cellent quality. Skencateles creek drives 
4 grain-mills, 4 saw-mills, S fulling- 
mills, 3 carding-machines, and 2 trip- 
hammers, in this 'Town. On the Otisco 
creek, whiL-h runs N. from Otisco Lake 
lliroiigU the E. part of Marcellus ints 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



23; 



Camillus, are 4 grain-mills, 4 saw-mills, 
a paper-mill and 2 carding-machines ; — 
and there are 6 distilleries in this Tewn. 
An awkward confusion of names that de- 
signates Nine-mile -creek and Nine-mile- 
creek-Village, as having been 9 miles 
from somebody at some place, ought to 
be discarded from Geography ,- and Otis- 
co creek, and Marcelkis Village are now 
about as common as the former vague 
phrases, to designate Otisco creek and 
a small Village on its shore. The land 
is held by right of soil, and well culti- 
vated. The Seneca turnpike, a part of 
the grand chain of turnpike roads from 
Albany to Niagara, leads across this 
Town. The inhabitants manufacture 
much of their clothing in the houshold 
way. There are in this Town, 8356 
sheep. In 1810, the populatioa was 4725, 
and the senatorial electors 387. There 
are 2 very considerable Villages, Shen- 
eateles, at the outlet of Skeneateles 
lake, where is a Post-OfRce of the same 
name, and 60 houses, mills, &c. ; and 
JMarcellnts, on Olisco creek, where is 
the other Post-Office. In each of these 
is a handsome Presbyterian meeting- 
house ; and there are 11 school-houses 
in this Town. The above Villages are 
on the Seneca turnpike, about 6 miles 

apart. See SKENEATr.LEs Viilage. 

JWrt;Ti?^/?i.s Village has 34 houses, several 
mills, &c., and is a handsome, thriving 
place, 157 miles from Albany. This 
Town was first settled in 1793, by two 
families from the Eastern States, and a 
few from Washington County in this 
J'tate. Some petrifactions in this Town 
deserve notice, as also the subterranean 
course of a part of Skeneateles creek. 

RE. 
Mextk, a Township of Cayuga Coun- 
ty, formerly called Jefierson, 8 miles 
northerly of Auburn Village, and 170 N. 
of W. from Albany ; bounded N. by 
Cato or by Seneca river, E. by Brutus, 
S. by Aurelius, W. by Seneca river, or 
the County of Seneca. Washed on the 
W. and N. by Seneca river, it enjoj-s 
good advantages for navigation ; the 
outlet of Owasco lake runs N. the whole 
length of the Town, through the E. part, 
and this with another small stream sup- 
ply some mill-seats. The surface is 
moderately uneveh, with gentle swells 
and vallies, and the soil is very rich and 
productive. There are 2 grain-mills 
and 2 or 3 saw-miils, and tlie land is 
tolerably well watered by small spring.s 
and brooks. There is a Baptist meet- 
ing-hou:3e, 1 also for Congregutionalists, 



and 3 or 4 school-houses. A road Iead.« 
from Auburn to Montezuma, is the most- 
travelled, but the other roads are pretty 
good and conveniently disposed. In the 
N. p.art of Mentz, at the mouth of the 
Owasco creek, is the flourishing Village 
oi JMontezitma, 12 miles N. of Auburn.^ 
Here is an extensive manufactory of 
salt, and a handsome compact village of 
about 30 houses, and the place bids fair 
to increase rapidly in business and po- 
pulation. In 181-0, the whole population 
of this Township was 1207, the senato- 
rial electors 96, the number of femilies 
204, and the taxable property amounted 
to 53,285 dollars. 

N.T.,R.P. 

MEHEDiTn, a Post-Township of Dela- 
ware county, 8 miles N. of Delhi, 66 
miles W. of Catskill, and 69 S. W. of 
Albany ; bounded N. by Franklin and 
Kortright, E. by Kortright, S. by Kort- 
right and Delhi, W- by Delhi and Frank'- 
lin. The Susquehanna turnpike from 
Catskill runs W. through this Town, and 
it has other common roads. It gives 
rise to Ouleout creek of the Susquehan- 
na river, and some small streams that 
run S. to the Delaware in Delhi. The 
land is hilly, but arable or good for mea- 
dow or grazing, and is held in fee by 
actual farmers and well cultivated. The 
inhabitants are principally Yankees, or 
emigrants from the Eastern States. — 
There are 3 or 4 schools. In 1810, tl>e 
whole population was 726, when there- 
were 138 families, 130 taxable inhabit- 
ants, 3545 dollars of personal property,, 
and 69,9 i9 dollars of real estate assessed 
for taxes that j^ear. It lies about mid- 
way between the Susquehanna and Dela- 
ware rivers, on the height of land, and 
is 9 miles long and 5 wide. The soil is 
principally a red or chocolate colored 
loam, moist and natural for grass. 

NT.,C.G.&O.P. 

Mexico, a newly settled Post-Town» 
ship in Oneida County, on the S. shore 
of Lake Ontario ; bounded N. by the lake, 
N. E. by Richland and E. by Williams- 
town ; Southerly by Constantia and Vol- 
ney, W. by Scriba. It was erected int» 
a Town in 1810, and after some sub- 
divisions, now comprises three Town- 
.ships, as designated on De Witt's Maps^ 
Veracriiz, Mexico and Strasbtu-gh. The 
face of the cotmtry is moderately une- 
ven, the soil good, but better adapted 
for grain than gras'^, though good crop.s 
of wheat and other grain are produced 
on the new" grounds. It is abundantly 
irrigated with small streams, wiiifU af- 



236 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



ford many mill-seats, and abound with 
a great variety offish, the much admir- 
ed salmon and salmon-trout being a- 
mong the number. There are many 
springs, some of which, report says, pos- 
sess medicinal qualities, but of what 
kind, I tlo not learn. It is but 4 years 
since tlie first considerable settlements 
in this Town, which now contains, 1810, 
123 senatorial electors, and about 800 
inhabitants. On a pleasant and eligible 
position, at the mouth of Little Salmon 
creek, iu this Town, and immediately 
on the shore of Lake Ontario, a Town is 
laid out, and called Mexico-Point,^ which 
seems likely to become a place of consi- 
derable business, though at present in- 
considerable, and with but few build- 
ings. Mexico-Point is in N. Latitude 
43'^ 31 ', W. Longitude 2" 17 ' from New- 
S'ork, about 13 miles from Oswego, and 
60 from Kingston, U. Canada, the prin- 
cipal market, and to which place the 
navigation is easy and safe. Abed of 
iron-ore has lately been discovered; and 
a. Correspondent writes me from C<m- 
stantia, that a salt-spring, which yields 
8 per cent., has lately been found near 
the S. line of Mexico. The population 
in 1810, was 845, and the Tost-Office 
was established in 1812. 

P.D. 
MiDDLEBtTiicH, a large Township of 
Scholiarie County, 10 miles S. of Hchoha- 
r/e, and 35 miles W. of Albany ; bound- 
ed N. by Schoharie, E. by Albany Coun- 
ty, S. by Eroome and Blenheim, AV. by 
Cobelskill. Its area may be 120 square 
Hiiles. Schoharie creek iiolds its course 
northward througli this Town, about 12 
xniles, nearly central between the E. and 
W. exti-emes ; and along this stream are 
extensive and very rich alluvial flats. 
This stream holds a course in this 
County of about 40 ijiiles, including its 
windings, along which are flats of supe- 
rior richness and fertility. But, the 
ample and minute details under the 
Town of Schoharie, may supersede the 
necessity of repetition. The ilelder- 
berfts also pervade this Town, and they 
occupy a large share of its surface wlili 
hills of various altitudes, and multifari- 
ous description. Ihey are calcareous, 
abound with resemblances of petrified 
shells, and afford large springs of water, 
with some natural caverns. The soil is 
good, commonly a calcareous loam, va- 
riously intermixed with vegetable mold; 
but tlie re is a large proportion of waste 
land. Scholxuric creek receives in this 
Town gome other smnU atrcinns, A 



turnpike from Athens to Cherry-Valley, 
crosses Schoharie creek near the centre 
of this Town ; and the Albany and Dela- 
ware turnpike extends W. near the S. 
line. The inhabitants are principally of 
Dutch or German origin ; and there are 
in this Town, with Schoharie, Sharon, 
and Cobelskill, 9 churches, in 6 of which 
I he service is in the German language. 
— But this seems rather the effect of 
a kind of prejudice, for the ordinary 
business is principally transacted in 
English, and books are almost un. 
known in any other language. There 
are three carding-machines, and three 
fulling-mills; and, with the aid of these, 
120 houshold looms produced 31,000 
yards of cloth in 1810, which supplies 
the most of the'clothing. The regularity 
and order of Dutch and German habits, 
are well known ; but their agriculture is 
susceptible of much improvement.— 
Wheat is every where their first object 
in agriculture ; but these peeple employ 
too many horses on the farm in general, 
which are full-fed, while their cows are 
much neglected, and oxen are almost 
unknown. In 1810, the wliole popula- 
tion of this Town was 3236, includuig 
95 slaves, and there were 313 senatorial 
electors. N.T.,E.H. 

Milton, a ToAvnship of Saratog.a 
County, 4 miles N. of Saratoga C. II., and 
30 miles N. of Albany ; bounded N. by 
Greenfield, E. by Saratoga and a small 
corner of Malta, S. by Ballston and a 
part of Charlton, W. by Galway. It is 
about 6 miles square, and has Ballston 
Springs, and the Village of BAtLSXojr- 
Spa in the S. E. corner, where is a PoH' 
Office of the same name. In 1810, the 
whole population was 2763, with 258 
electors. Milton is well supplied with 
mill-seats. Kyadeross, or Kyaderosseras 
creek courses S. and S eastward through 
it to the S. E. corner, where it receives 
a small stream from Ballston, and runs 
E. to Saratoga lake. There are several 
other branches also, which afford mill- 
seats. The soil is principally a pretty 
stiff loam, except the E. part, where are 
fine plains, and a .soil of light sand. The 
surface is but gently undulated in gene- 
ral, but there are deep gullies that em- 
brace the streams in the E. part, and 
some of these are of a most forbidding- 
aspect. There arc 5 churches or houses 
for public wor-ship ; one for Congrega- 
tionalists, one for Episcopalians, one for 
Quakers, one for Bapti.sts, and a small 
one for Methodists ; and a competent 
ntimbcr ol" school-house?, M'ilh u amali 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



237 



social library. Eight grain-mills. 14 
saw-mills, 4 fulling-mills, 4 carding- 
machines, an extensive woollen factory 
and 2 foi-ges for making bai'-iron. The 
lands are principally licld by right of 
soil, and. the lease lands pay an annual 
rent of about 20 dollars per hundred 
acres. The inhabitants appear to be 
making rapid advances in agriculture 
and every brancli of domestic economy: 
and their lioushold manufactures are ve- 
ry i-espectable in quality and amount. 
The roads ai-e disposed at convenient 
distances, and run on right lines, the 
bounds of surveys. In the centre, where 
these meet, is a liatidsome open area, on 
a fine sandy plain, and a small village 
with 2 churches and about 20 houses, o 
sniles N. W. of I]a!lston-Spa. This, in 
the manner of the Eastern States, bears 
the name of the Town, a plan that com- 
bines many conveniences, and is highly 
ornamental. A manufactory of woollen 
cloths in this Town, which has been re- 
cently established, promises to become 
extensively useful. Its cloths have al- 
ready a high reputation. The Post- 
Village of JJallstox-Si'a is separately 
described under its own name. It is 
situated 26 miles N. of Albany, and 19 
from Waterford, near the S. E. corner 
of.VIilton, in a narrow vale, apparently 
formed by a branch of Kyadeross creek 
■which winds through it to the N. West. 
This Village is incorporated, and a small 
part of its legal area is within the Town 
of Ballston. Here are the celebrated 
Ballston waters, described page 24, and 
a flourishing compact village of llU 
houses and stores, an academy, a small 
meeting-iiouse, and some very large 
boarding-honses. Tlie Sans Souci is 
thought to be one of liie most elegant 
and extensive in Amei;ic;i, and has ac- 
commodated 170 boarders and lodgers ; 
but i t is designed for about l^^i I only. This 
establishment lias cost tiic proprietor 
about 75,0J0 dollars. 

J.K.,N.L.,A.,84S.G. 
MiMsixK, a large Townsiup in the 
W. angle of Orange County, 10 miles VV . 
oi' Gos/ien ; us form is t, lingular, and 
it is bounded N. by D;'crpurk and Wall- 
kill, on the S. d. by Wallkiii creek o. 
(ioslien and VVarwick, S. W. by tkt 
Stales of New-Jei'sey and Pennsylvania, 
a distance of 13 miles. Its urea may.be 
about 81 square miles. The Shuwan- 
gunk, an extensive and lofiy ridge a 
the ApuUaciiian mountains, lies N. 
eastward ucros.^ this Town wheie it en- 
ters from New-Jersey, and extends N. 



into Ulster County. At the W. foot of 
this ridge runs the Navlsink creek or 
river, and meets the Delaware river 
just at its great bend and the N W. 
corner of New-Jersey. The Wullkilloii 
the E. line, flows throi.gh the Drowned 
Lands, a part of which belong to this 
'I'own. The sm-face, therefore, partakes 
of every variety, and the soil is not less 
various. That part which lies \V. of 
Sh.awangunk mftuntain, is called West- 
Town ; and being on the Delaware river, 
finds its market principally through that 
channel. Shawangunk creek, a large 
branch of Wailkill, rises in a pond on 
the E. foot of the mountain,. and there 
are other mill-streams also, which sup- 
))]y abundance of sites for mills. This 
Town has been long settled, and its ear- 
ly history, with its present improve- 
ments, differ little from those of War^ 
wick. In 1810, its whole population was 
4005, and there were 329 senatorial 
electors. N.T, 

MiNDEx, a Post-Township in the S. W. 
corner of Montgomery County, on the S. 
slioie of the Mohawk, 25 miles W. of" 
Jo/msto-wn,aud 62 from Albany ; bounded 
Northerly by the Mohawk river. Easter- 
ly by Canajoharie, Southerly by Otsego 
County, West by Herkimer County. Its 
extent along the river is about 15 miles, 
7 on the S. line, and the area may be 82 
square miles. The surface is agreeably 
undulated with ridges of hills of a mo- 
derate height, and pleasant and fertile 
vallies. The soil is an argillaceous mold, 
variously mixed with vegetable remains, 
and the whole underlaid by a strong ar- 
gillaceous grit or stiff clay. Along the 
Mohawk are fine flats of alluvion, and 
also along the Otsquaga or Osquaga 
creek, which runs N. E. to the Mohawk, 
as does the Nowada;^a also, both good 
mill-streams. Minden is an excellent 
Townsliip for wheat, and its other pro- 
ducts partake of the variety common to 
this country. Fort-Plain was in this 
Town, and its site still retains that 
iiame, where is a small village. Here 
aas the residence of Hendn k, a cele- 
;).uied M ihawk Chieti slain at Lake 
George iii 1755 ; as also of a targe part of 
tne ML'hawk Indians, who nad iiere an 
Indian Castle or Town, near the mouth 
,if Novvaiiaga. There are three Du!ch 
Reformed churches ; at Fort-Plain, Ots- 
(juaga, and at the Indian Castle ; the 
la ter of which was built prior to the 
llevolution for the use of the Indians, 
the bell of which they attempted to car- 
ry with them to Grand River in Canada, 
31 



238 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



when ihey removed thither during 'he 
war; buv it wus reclaimed, and is now 
replaced in the church. The inhabitants 
are of German and Dutch extraction, 
and there maj be n«ai- GOOfreeholders. In 
1810, the population v/as 4788, with 382 
senatoi-ial electors, and 653 taxable in- 
habitants. The whole amount of taxa- 
ble property, S6-52,4G8. The early in- 
habitants sufttjred very severely during 
the wars, and indeed knew little of quiet 
possession till since the Revolution. 
J.M.&F.B. 
MiMLETirxii, a Township of Otsego 
County, 3 miles E. of Cooperstoiun, and 
63 W. of Albany, being about 12 miles 
long, and its medial breath 5 miles. It 
is an irregular trapezium-, bounded by 
Lake Otsego and the Susquehanna river 
on the W., >Jilford on the S. ; S. E. and 
E., by Maryland and Westford, N. and 
N. W ., by Cherry-Valley and Springfield. 
The road of the Second Company of the 
> Great Western Turnpike from Cherry- 
Yalley to Cooperstown, lies through 
this Town about 10 miks. It is about 
63 miles W. from Albany, and 35 S. E. 
from Utica. The face of the country is 
hilly, in general, but the soil is good, 
and pi-oduces plentiful crops of grain 
and grass. 'Ihere are 10 »aw-milis, 4 
gi-ist-milband a distillery. Middlefield 
has one house fov public worship, and a 
pretty competent number of common 
school-houses and schools. The inhabit- 
ants are principally clad in the manu- 
factures of the domestic roof, in which 
they are making great improvements, as 
also in every par ticuLir of domestic 
economy. The dairy of this county has 
a high reputation. Population in 1810, 
2003, with 233 electors,- 338 taxable in- 
habitants, and 227,790 dollars of taxa- 
ble property. B.G.&E.P. 

MiLroiii), a Post-Township of Otsego 
County, 10 miles S. of Gooperstoim, ar.d 
76 W. of Albany; bounded N. by Hart- 
wick, E. by the Susquehanna, or the 
Towns of Middleficld, Wes^tford aiTd 
Maryland, S. by Susquehanna river or 
the County oi Delaware, W. by Otego 
and Laurens. lis extent, N. and S. along 
the Susquehanna, is about 10 miles, and 
4 1-2 along the Susquehanna on the S., 
with an area of 46 square miles. The 
surface of this Town is hilly, and its 
hills and vallies have much of a rich 
soil, suitable for grain and grass. Like 
the other Towns in this County, its pas- 
turage is very line, and its dairy excel- 
lent.' Along the streams are some alluvial 
lands, but the Hats are narrow, and the 



hills rise in broken and rugged steeps-. 
Its agriculture is respectable and im- 
proving, with every part of domestic 
economy ; and its houshold manufac- 
tures keep pace with the improved 
breeds of domestic slock. There is one 
Presbyterian meeting-house and eleven 
school-hoUies. In 1810, the whole po- 
pulation was 2025, with 139 electors, 
335 taxablt inhabitants, and 191,747 dol- 
lars of taxable property. 

N.T.,J.P.,&E.P. 
MiDDLEtoWN, a Fost-Township of De- 
laware County, 15 mUes S. E. of Delhi, 
45 miles from Kingston, and 73 S. W. of 
Albany; bounded on the N. E. by Rox- 
bury and a part on Greene County, S. lif. 
by Shandaken in Ulster County, S. W. 
by Colchester, W. W. by Delhi. Its area 
may be about 165 square miles, and it 
is watered by Papachtan branch, or the 
E. branch of Delaware river, which wi\h 
numerous branches spread over every 
part and supply abundance of mill-seats. 
The surface is mountainous andliilly; 
but with deep intervening vallies of ara- 
ble lands, and the hills are good for 
grass. The E. branch runs about 25 
miles in this Town; and it has the UN 
ster and Delaware turnpike an extent of 
21 miles. The lands are held, some in 
fee and some by lease. Theie is one 
Presbyterian and one Methodist meet- 
ing-house, and there are some school- 
houses : 9 grain-mills-, 13 saw-mills, a 
fulling-mill, and a cardifig-machine.— 
The whole population in 18 '0, 2318, 
with 399 faniilies, 327 taxable inhabit- 
ants, and 195,980 dolhirs of taxable pro- 
perty. Some few families were here 
prior to the Kevolutionai'y war, but they 
were then driven oft'. The present in- 
habitants are composed of cmi^^rants 
from the Eastern States, and of Irish, 
Scotch, and some Dutch and Germaft 
families. J.G.,C.G.&O.P. 

MiBDLESEX, a Township of Ontario 
County, 12 miles southerly of Ca?iandal- 
gua, 17 S. W. of Geneva, and 209 Irom 
Albarry ; bounded N. by Canandaigua and 
(.Torham, E. by Seneca and Benton, S. 
by Jerusalem and Naples, W. by Bristol. 
It was formerly called Augusta — name 
changed in 1808 ; is about 9 miles long 
E. and W., and 6 wide, comprising Nos. 
8 ill' the 2d and 3d Ranges, except that 
part lying W. of Canandaigua lake at- 
tached to Bristoh This Town has the 
Canandaigua lake extending N. and S. 
along the \V. end ; and the inlet of this, 
and the W. arm of Crooked lake, with 
small streams, supply g-Qod mill-seats. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



259 



The soil is fjoocl, and the inhabitants 
are comparatively rich. There is con- 
siderable mercantile, distilling and ma- 
nufacturing business carried on in this 
Town. It has the Canandaigua turnpike 
to Bath in Steuben County, leading- 
across N. and S., and numerous common 
roads. The distance to Bath is 26 miles. 
In 1810, tlxepopulatbn anaounted to 1078, 
with 130 senatorial electors. Thehous- 
hold manufactKres of cloth, &c., re- 
spectable and improving, are nearly suf- 
ficient for the consumption : 14,124 
yards of cloth were made in 1810. The 
whole number of families in 1810, 180; 
cf looms, 58. N.T.,J.C.^ 

Mou?vt-Pleasant, a Post-Township of 
West-Chester County, on the E. bank of 
the Hudson, 36 miles N. of New-Yort, 
128 S. of Albany, and 14 S. W. of Bed- 
ford, to the Landing at Sing-^iing-,; boun- 
ded N. E. by Newacstie, E. by North- 
castle, S. by Greensburgh, and W. by 
the Hudson. Tliis is the most populous 
Town in the County, and next to West- 
chester, has the most wealth. It lies 
opposite the N. part of Tappan Bay, and 
extends 7 miles along- the river. Sing' 
Sing Village and Landing are finely situ- 
ated on a rising bank, where the river 
is about three miles wide, and the trade 
employs several slcops. It is a fine po- 
sition ; and had it been early chosen as 
the Couuty-seat, would now have been 
a populous and flourishing Town. Savv- 
Tnill creek and Bronx creek, with ano- 
ther small stream, supply abundance 
of mill-seats. The land is of a good 
quality in general, and is rendered very 
productive by good agriculture. The 
taxable property in 1810, araouuted to 
503,420 dollars, when there were 444 
taxable inhabitants, 218 electors, and 
3119 persons in all. S.D.,N.T. 

MoN'TfiOMEiiT, a Township An the N. 
of Orange County, with a Post-Gffice 
called Wardshridge, 12 miles W. of 
J^'e-Mburgh, 12 miles N. of Geshen, 100 
miles from Albany, and neai- 70 from 
New- York ; bounded N. by Ulster Coun- 
ty, E. by Newburgh and New-Windsor, 
S. by WuUkili, "and W. by Sullivan 
Countv. Its form is very irregular, 
its surface is diversified, and the soil is 
said to be rich and fertile. Hemp is 
raised in considerab'c quantities, and 
tlie lands are well divided into meadow, 
pasture, and dry and warm for tillage. 
The roads are very raimerous, and good. 
There are 8 houses of worjihi]?, an acade- 
my, and 16 school-houses. Tlie farms 
.are under jjood niltivytion, and yield 



great quantities of wheat, rye, beef, 
pork, hemp, and butter and cheese for 
the adjacent Market-Towns. Near the 
centre of this Town, on the E. bank of 
Wallfcill or Paltz river, is the flourish- 
ing Village of Montgomery, which is in- 
corporated and contains near 400 inhab- 
itants. Here are about 50 houses,, an 
academy, several mills ; and at this 
place is also the Post-Office called 
Wardshridge. Several turnpike roads 
meet here, and it is fast increasing ia 
populatic^i and business. In 1810, the 
whole population was 4710, with 343 
electors, a circumstance that indicates 
wealth with a possession of the lands 
in fee-simple. 

T.M.N, 

MoKExr, a Township in the N. E. ex- 
tremitv of Saratoga County, 16 miles 
N. E. of Ballston-Spa, and 50 miles N. 
of Albany ; bounded N. and E. by the 
Hudson or the County of Washington, 
S. by Northumberland, W. by Green- 
field and Hadley. This Town, situated 
wiiliin the great bend of the Hudson, is 
washed on the N. and E. by that river, 
a distance of about 18 miles, and in- 
eludes a p.art of Baker's Falls, and 
of Glen's Falls also, at the latter of 
which is a toll-bridge across the Hud- 
son. And it has also 2 considerable mill- 
streams that run into the Hudson, the 
largest of v/hich is Snook creek. A 
range of lofty and rugged hills extends 
N. eastward from Northumberland, to- 
wards Baker's Falls, and excepting this 
tract, the general surface is either level 
or but moderately uneven. The soil is 
diversified, with tracts of sand, clay, 
and loam, which gener.alJy constitute 
good farming lands. The timber is 
pine, Sic, in some parts, and there is a 
large tract called the beech-and-maple 
woods. There is one small pond, and 
but very little of marshy ground. An 
extensive manufactory of gun-powder 
has been recently established at Baker's 
Falls in this Town, and there are mills 
of various kinds in convenient abund- 
ance. In 1810, the whole population 
was 1347, with 85 senatorial electors. 
Moreau was erected in 1805, from the 
N. part of Northumberland. 

N.T.,J.S.,8cA.C.B. 

MoiUAH, a Township of Essex County, 
on tlie \y . shore of Lake Champlain, e- 
rccted in 1808, from Crown -Point jind 
Elizabcthtown, being about 7 miles by 
8; bounded N. by Elizabcthtown, E, 
by Lake Champlain, S. by Crown-Point, 
W. by Scroon. In this Town,, are 6 Pa- 



240 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



tents, making about 1400 acres, grant- 
ed by the Kings of Great-Britain, from 
■which titles are derived. The residue 
is either State's land now, or has been 
sold by ihf State. Titles are good, and 
the iui'd held in fee-simple. The soil is 
good tor grass, and yields tolerable 
crops 01 griiin, and is well watered. — 
This 'ract has only sume mountains in 
the western part ; being 'evel along the 
Eake. The timber is maple, beech, ash, 
basswood, or linden, elm and hemlock, 
on the B.part ; on the W. and hilly part 
are cxcelient groves of while and yellow 
or Norway pin^ ; and mines of iron-ore. 
Tliere are 2 small mill-streams, which 
pass eastward from small ponds, unitt 
about 1 1-2 mile from the Lake into 
viiich tbey emy>ty, and afford good sites 
for mills, several of which are improv- 
ed t'iiere nre 1 grist-mill, 2 saM-mills, 
a fulling-mill, &c The first settlement, 
WHS by William M'Kenzie, Esq., about 
1785. There are now, 1810, 106 fami- 
lies, "21 senatorial electors, and in all 
584 sorls. "i axable property, 38,840 dol- 
lars. Roj^'-ers' ore bed, in this Town, is 
pr'.hiibly one of the best and oldest on 
the Lake. 

G.S, 
MooKHs, a Township of Clinton Coun- 
ty, erec.'^ed in 1804, froiQ a partof Cham- 
plai'.i ; bounded N. by the Province of 
Canada, E, by Champlain, W. by Frank- 
lin County. Its settlements are of a ve- 
ry vecent date, and it affords nothing to 
demand minute detail. The whole po- 
pulation in 1810, was but 311, with 53 
electors. The land is said to be brok- 
en, but with a considerable proportion 
of farming land ; and it is well watered 
by many small streams. 

N.T,.F,L.H. 
MuNHOE, a Post-Township of Oiange 
County, 19 miles S. of A'ew-Jiitr^h, 115 
miles S. of Albany, and 50 miles N. of N, 
York ; bounded Nt^-therly by Blooming- 
Grovfr and Cornwall, S. E. by Rockland 
County, W, by Warwick Its form is 
conical with the base on Rockland Coun- 
ty, just touching the Hudson on the E., 
and the Stateof New-Jersey on the S.W., 
in acute angles ; and its area may be 
64 square miles. The surface is broken 
and hilly, by the ranges that form the 
Highlands, but the vallies are of some 
extent, and tolerably productive. It is 
Well watered by numerous streams, and 
there ai'c several ponds of 1 to 3 miles 
in length, which are the sources of ma- 
ny mill-streams that afford eligible sites 
for mills, f ivctQriesj &c. The Ramapo, a 



fine stream of New-Jersey, rises in one 
of these ponds, and winds a difficult 
way through the Highlands and across 
the W. of Rockland County, into lileW' 
Jersey. The hills, or mountains, abound 
with iron-ore, and with wood for coal ; 
and these circumstances, connected with 
the advantages for water-works, have in- 
duced a vigorous prosecution of such 
combined facilities in the manufacture 
of iron. There are now 3 furnaces., 5 
bloomeries, a rolling and slitting-mill, 
an extensive manufactory of nails, and 
an anchor-works. Ihese various works 
employ irom 500 to near 400 men, ami 
make a market for much of the surplus 
products of agriculture in this and the 
adjacent Towns. There is a. Post-OJjice 
at JVIunroe Works, of the Same name. 
And Augusta Works, in tlfe S., near 
the line of Rockland County, are ve- 
ry extensive, and merit detailed no- 
tice. The bloomery is a stone build- 
ing, 70 feet long, in which are 4 fires 
and 2 hammers. On the ridge is a 
cistern, 70 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 10 
inches deep, kept full of water for ex- 
tinguishing accidental fires. There is 
an anchor works Avhich makes 60 tons 
yearly, and where anchors are made 
weighing 6000 pounds. A grain and saw ■. 
mill belong to this establishment, which 
is the property of Solomon Townsend, 
Esq., oi' New- York, and to which is also 
attached 12,000 acres of land. The bloom- 
eries may be made to yield 200 tons of 
bar-iron yearly. There are 2 houses ot 
worship ; 1 for Quakers, and 1 for Pres- 
byterians. In 1810, the whole popula- 
tion was 2570, when there were 112 e- 
lectors. Tills Town was first settled in 
1742, and the settlement was called 
Smith's Clove ; but the first legal name 
was Cheesecocks, from a patent of land 
so named. In 18U2, it was altered to 
Southfiekl, and in 1808 to Munroe. The 
Post-Office was first called Southfield, 
and it was changed with the name oftlie 
Town. The inhabitants suffered much 
in the Revolutionary war, from the sav- 
ai^e depredations of a nest of traitors, 
tories, and a species of robbers called 
Cow-boys. 

J.R.A.,R.V.,&S.T. 
MtJUBAT, a large Township of Genesee 
County, 18 miles N. Easterly from Jtata- 
via, erected in 1808; bounded N. on Lake 
Ontario, E. by Parma and Riga, S. by 
Caltdonia, W. by Eatavia. Its knglh N. 
and S. is 2U miles ; it extends about 17 
miles w.de at the N. end, and near 8 at 
tlie S. end, giving a medial width «f 12 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



241 



miles and an area of 240 square miles. 
Tlie Anvocheeca Creek runs across the 
N. W. corner to Lake Ontario, and there 
are several smaller streams. The land 
is of various qualities, but rood in gen- 
eral, with very little waste land. In tl\e 
N., at tlie distance of 7 or 8 miles from 
the Lake shore, is a ledge of free-stone 
and slate that pervades tlie whole coun- 
try from Niagara river to the Genesee, 
and between this and the Lake is the 
ridge of gravel and sand on which is 
lately opened the Itidge Road. S. oi' 
this ledge is another called the middle 
ledge. 'J his Town comprises nearly all 
the tract called the Triangle, and tho' 
so extensive, aftbrds little to demand 
detail. The whole population m 1810, 
was 1166, with 17 senatorial electors; 
and the taxable property assessed that 
vear amounted to 169,509 dollars. 

R.S.N.T, 

Madison Cou>'tt, see page 83. 

Mai,o xe Post-Office, see Ezratille. 

Masor or LiYisrcsTON, see Livings- 
ton's Manor. 

Manchester, a flourishing Post-Vil- 
lage of Cambria, Niagara County, on the 
E. side of Niagara river, adjoining the 
rapids and falls. This Village was first 
laid out in 1807, on land then entirely 
wild. It now contains, 1810, one of tlie 
best grist-mills in the western country, 
a saw-mill, fulling-mill, carding-ma- 
chine, a i-ope-walk, on a large plan, se- 
veral tanneries, and in fact is a seat of 
most mechanical branches of business 
pursued in the western country. There 
are about 10 or 15 dwellings, and some 
other buildings, besides those above no- 
ticed. Every kind of machinery, driven 
by water, may here be multiplied to any 
extent ; and the enterprising capitaiisis 
of the U. S. must soon perceive that this 
place is peculiarly wel: adapted for es- 
tablishing various majiufactures, on a 
scale commensurate with these facili- 
ties, and the wants of an immense extent 
of territory. Situated on the high road 
of communication with the St. Law- 
rence and the great Lakes, and on the 
verge of a large extent of fertile coun- 
try, fast populating, its real advantages 
are so attractive, that in common with 
Lewiston,&c., the population must very 
rapidly increase ; — nor ought, in a view 
of its attractions, its contiguity to the 
far-famed cataract of Niagara to be o- 
mitted. At least, in the minds of for- 
eign readers, this circumstance will 
form an important feature- A want of 
active capital is now severely felt by 



the inhabitants. But much credit is 
due to the patriotic and unremitted ex- 
ertions of the Messrs. Porter and Bar- 
ton, whose efforts have done much to- 
ward producing the present improved 
state of this place, and of the adjacent 
country. Their encouragement to me- 
chanics, is highly laudable, and, it is tft 
be hoped, will meet a due reward.— 
Manchester, is 20 miles from Bvffalo, 
or New-.\msterdam, 7 1-2 from Lewis- 
ton, and 87 from Genesee Falls. This 
place is often called Grand Niagara, 
and it may with perfect propriety be so 
distinguished ; or perhaps, as Niagara, 
while the lower Town may retain the 
name of Fort Niagara. 

J.H.,A.P. 
Mattatuc, Post-Office, see Souxii- 

OLD. 

Matville, see CuATAuat^A. 
Mechanic Vulaoe, see Washington. 
MiDDLETOWN P. o., and Morriches, 
Post-Office, see Brookhaven. 

Middle-Settlement, see Whites- 

TOAVN. 

Middletowx v., see Halt.voc?^. 
MiTCHiLi, or Sand's Point Light- 
HovsE, see North-Hempstead. 

IMoHAvrK Rim;k, a large western Tlranch 
of the Hudson, rises in the N. E. of O- 
neida County, about 20 miles N. of llonoe, 
to which place it runs a course nearly 
S., and then turns E., bearing S. toward 
the Hudson, which it enters in several 
mouths between Troy and Watcrford, 
after a comparative coui-se of about 135 
miles. Its source is within a few miles 
of that of Black River, of Lake Ontario, 
and from Rome it winds along through 
a deep valley, bordered by high and 
broken river-hills in many places, and 
there are many extensive and very valu- 
able alluvial flats. The stream of llie 
Mohawk is unequal, with many breaks 
and rapids, and there art' 2 Falls of 42 
and near 70 feet, besides another small 
one at the German Fiats. At Rome 
there is a Canal of 1 1-2 mile, connect- 
ing the Mohawk Avith AVood Creek and 
Oswego river ofL. Ontario, for which 
I see page 15. There is also a canal 
i at the Little Falls, and one around 
Wolf rift, at the German Flats. A kind 
' of half-guessing admeasurement of the 
I distances and descents of the Mohawk 
! from the level of Rome to the Hudson, 
i makes the distance 117 miles, and the 
! whole descent 367 feet. From Rome to 
j Utica, 16 1-2 miles, is a descent of 2& 
i feet ; Utica to German Flats, 16 miles, 
1 19 1-2 feet ; German Flats canal to head 



242 



GAZEFrEER OF NEW-YORK. 



of Little Falls, 6 miles, 42 feet ; Little 
Falls to Palatine bridge, 19 1-2 miles, 
o4 feet ; Palatine brid.^-e to Sclimecta- 
cly, 40 miles, 76 1-2 feet ; Srhenectaclj' 
to head of Cahoos Falls, 12 miles; Falls, 
70 feet; and thenre to the Hudson, 2 
miles, is a descent of about 70; makin.e: 
in all 367 feet. Tlie Littxe Falls, and 
Cahoos, are separately described, as are 
also E. and W. Canada, and SciionAuiE 
Cnr.EKS, principal branches of the SIo- 
hawk, with many others of less note, all 
enumerated page 11. With the aid of 
the canals above noticed, t^ie Mo- 
liawk is boatable from Schenectady to 
Rome, from v/hich place is a canal tnat 
continues the navigation through Oswe- 
go river, for the expense of which see 
pagfe 1 5. The Mohawk country has long 
been characterised as one of the best for 
wheat, and the land is good for all the 
common products of agriculture, though 
generally broken by hills of considera- 
ble magnit^ide, but exceedingly well 
^vatered with springs and brooks. Great 
expectations were once entertained fi-om 
the navigation of this river, and indeed 
much lias been realized, while the roads 
on its borders were new and but indif- 
fei'ently good ; though now, transporta- 
tion by land is every year gaining on 
ihat by water. And Brindley, the cel- 
ebrated caTial architect, was more than [ 
half correct in his strange p2'e<lilection 
for the artificial ■channels of riv«r navi- 
l^ation. And certainly the best possi- 
ble use of the JNIohawk, is to fill a canal 
with its waters, though it should wind 
along the valley of the parent stream. 
Agreeable to the above admeasureTnent, 
the level of Rome is 145 feet above that 
of Lake Erie, which is 3 '9 feet above 
that of Lake Ontario, the nearest point 
«f which Iiukc is 43 miles in a right line 
from Rome. And Luke Erie is 525 feet 
above the level of the Hudson xit the 
mouth of the Mohawk. '1 hese circum- 
stances arc noticed here, because that 
at some period, a canal will be con- 
structed along the Mohawk, opening a 
boat navigation from tide-water on the 
Hudson to Rome ; and when this shall 
liave been eftected, public and private 
utility can hardly fail to extend it also 
to one or both of the great Lakes Onta- 
rio and Erie — as also, that already a 
^reat canal is projected by this State, 
to extend from the Hudson to Lake E- 
rie, and considerable progress made in 
preparation for a commencement of that 
tjreal work. Temples and palaces arc 
raised by slo'^v decrees, built rather of 



stones than of whole mountains, ana I 
liave my doubts if the Grand Canal can 
be constructed only in separate parts. 

MoiEA Post-Office, see Dickissok. 

MoNTGOMEax CouKTT, See pyge 84. 

MoNTAUK, MoNTAUK Ikdians, and 

MONTAUK LIOIIT-HOCSE, SCC ELiSTHAMP- 
TOIN. 

M ONTEZCMA, or MoTEZUM A, See Mestz . 
MoNTicxLLO, see TaeMPsoN. 
MoxTVii,LE,aiiid MoBAViA, see Ssmpro- 

KIUS. 

MonRissAxiA, see Westchester. 

MonnisviLLE, see Gouvervkuk. 

Mount Defiance, see TicoNnEaocA. 

Mud Ckeek, of Ontario County, rises 
in Bristol, and runs N. through Bloom- 
field, E. through Palmyra and L}ons, and 
enters Canandaigua creek or river, in the 
N, E. corner of Phelps, after a serpen- 
tine course o.f about 40 miles. It rises 
W. of Canandaigua Lake t-bout 6 miles, 
and curves N. and E., nearly parallel 
with that Lake and river, till mutually 
approaching, they meet near tlie E. line 
ol the Couuiy. This i' a fine mill-stream, 
and waters one of the best tracts of 
farming land in the state- 



jYAPLES, a Post-Township on tlw; 
.S. line of Ontario County, 18 miles 
southerly from Cimandaigua, and about 
216 miles W. of Albany ; bounded N. 
by Livonia, Honeoy, Bristol, and a part 
of Middlesex, E. by Jerusalem, S. by 
Steuben County, W. by Sparta. Its 
form is an oblong square of 18 miles E- 
and W., by 6 miles N. and S. ; and it 
comprises 3 Townships, Nos. 7, in the 
3d, 4th, and 5th Ranges of Phelps and 
Goi-ham's purchase. The head of Ca- 
nandfiigua Lake extends 114 rods into 
7 of the 3d range, and its waters are 
some small streams of this and the other 
small Lakes on the N, with some head 
branches of Conhocton creek of the Sus- 
quehanna. The surface is considerably 
uneven, but with tracts of plain and 
valley lands that will admit of a pretty 
good farming country, though the set- 
tlements are now of recent date, and 
principally on the middle Township, 
where the first families commenced im- 
provements in 1791. There are in all 
121 fiimilies. In 1810, the whole popu- 
ticu was G37, with 77 senatorial eiec- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK 



243 



tors. The houshold manufacture of 
cloth amounted to 6905 yards in 1810. 
This Town was first organized in 1801, 
and called Middletown till 1808, when 
the name was changed to Naples. The 
main road from Canandaigiia to Bath, 
leads across parts oi' tlie two eastern 
Townships. J.W.,&J.C.S. 

Nassau, a Township of Rensselaer 
County, 20 miles S. easterly of Troi/, 
and 1.5 from Albany ; bounded N. by 
Clreenbush and Berlin, E. by Stephen- 
town, S. by Columbia County, ^V. by 
Schodac. It had a Post-Office of the 
same name prior to 1811, when it was 
discominued ; and there are now two 
Post-Offices, Union Village P.O., 11 1-2 
miles from Albany ; and BrainartVs 
Jiridge P.O., 16 miles, both on the turn- 
pike to New-Lebanon. In 1810, the 
whole population was 2501, including 
31 slaves, and there were also 271 elec- 
tors. The personal property assessed 
that year amounted to §32,798, and the 
aggregate of real and personal was 
S217,631. Valletjics-kiil, or Little Falls 
creek, a branch of Kinderhook creek, 
rises in this Town and supplies mill- 
seats, as do one or two other small 
streams. And Lebanon creek courses a 
short distance along the S, line. The 
surface is uneven, but the hills arc of a 
nioderaie height, and generally admit 
of cultivation, and the vallies are rich 
and fertile. The rocks are .'shiscie, and 
some are calcareous, in ledges that form 
the bases of hillocks of moderate heigiii. 
The vallies have a shistic gravel, and 
some of the hills also, warm and produc- 
tive, an excellent soil with good husband- 
ry) and but inditierent with bad. In the 
E. part is an extensive tract of pine fo- 
rest, and the soil is of little value. A 
Tnill-stream runs S. througli this, and 
supplies many mills, principally employ- 
ed in sawing lumber for market. This 
is the western border of the Green 
Woods, noticed also under Berlin, Pe- 
tersburgh and Grafton. Union ViMage, 
in the western part, is situated in a 
pleasant vale, 11 1-2 miles nearly S. E. 
from Albaviy, on the tui"npike to New- 
Lebanon. It has about 50 houses and 
stores, a church, and a Post-Ofiice, and 
is incorporated as a Village. Near this 
are valuable mills also. In the E. part 
is also a small Village called Nussau, 
where are a church, some stores, ta- 
verns, and 15 or 20 houses. This i.s al.so 
on the old turnpike to New-Lebanon, on 
the N. side of N, Lebanon creek, and in 
this valley are many mills, and a pretiy'J 



compact population for about one mile. 
But a new road recently opened hai 
turned the travel by JirdinarU's Bvidgt, 
making a saving of 1| mile in the dis- 
tance of 4 miles. This is in the S. part 
of Nassau, where is a small village and 
a Post-office, established in ISII. 

J.B.,B.S.,&E.W. 
Nevehsixk, or Navesinck, a Township 
on the E. line of Sullivan County, e- 
rected in 1798, then in Ulster County j 
bounded N. and E. by Uls-ter County, 
S. by Thompson, W. by Kockland ; be- 
ing about 12 by 10 miles — the area, 
65,000 acres. Population 946 r senato- 
rial electors 91. Taxable f:ist property, 
§138,705; personal, 6208; total, §144,- 
913, agreeable to the Assessors' books ia 
1810. The title is principally by lease, 
and lands not cultivated well. This 
Town compiehends the E. part of gi-eat 
Lots No. 3, 4 and 5, of the Hardenbergh 
Patent. The principal streams are Na- 
vesinck river, and llondout creek or kill. 

L.B. 
New-Baltimobe- a Township in the 
N. E. corner of Greene County, erected 
in 1811, from the N. part of Coxackie, 
16 miles N. of CatskiU, and 18 S. of Al- 
bany ; bounded N. by Albany County, 
E. by the Hudson, or the County of Co- 
lumbia, S. by Co.vackie, W. by Greenc- 
ville. Coxackie creek runs across the 
S. E. corner to the Hudson, as does llai-- 
nekrai creek across the N. E. corner. 
These streams supply abundance of mill- 
seats. The surface is broken and the 
soil diversified wish tracts of loam, sunci, 
and argillaceous moM and some clay. 
There is one meeting-house, bclongint; 
to the Quakers, in which is held it 
monthly -meeting J — situated on Stanton- 
/fifl, 3 1-2 miles W. of New-Baltimorx.- 
Village. It populatiou is unloiown, and 
conjecture is vague and wdil. TJie 
whole population of (Jo.\ackie, by the 
Census of I8I0, was 4057, and that of 
New-Baltimore is probably less than 
half of this number. Tiie-re is a Land- 
ing on the Hudson, 16 miles below Al- 
bany, and a small Village of 15 or IS 
houses, on the post-ixjad from Albany to 
New-York. A spring in this Town, 2 
niiles W. of the Hudson, has attracted 
some notice, because report says it ebbs 
and flows, or rises and tails at ceriaiu 
periods. And an inlelligcni Correspoii- 
dent assures me that the variation is 
very perceptible in a few minutes., both. 
ill the height of the water and the quan- 
tity which Jiows f'roiii it. 

J.L.B.,SvW.8iD. 



244 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



New-Berlin, a Post-Township of Clie- 
nan,^o County, 7 miles N. of £1. from JVor- 
-uic'h, and 90 W. of Albany ; bounded N. 
by Columbus, E. by Pittsfieid and Butter- 
nuts in the County of Otsego, the line 
being Unadilla river ; W. by Norwich. 
It was erected Iti 1807, being No. 16 of 
the 20 Townships, together with S tier 
of lots off the E. part of No. 10, and No. 
15 to the quarter line. It was organised 
in I80S, and in I8I0 tlie whole popula- 
tion was 1632, with 179 senatorial elec- 
tors, and gl 11,355 of taxable property. 
Its extent N. and S. is 10 1-2 miles ;— 
bounded on the E. by Unadilla river, 
and some branches of this stream sup- 
ply good mill-seats. Its general cha- 
racter and products, similar to those of 
the adjoining Towns, superccvles a repe- 
tition of detail. Its surface however is 
diversified, and some part hil'y, but the 
vallies have a rich soil of mold, and the 
hills are moist and very productive of 
jjrass, with tracts of good arable lands. 
The forest woods are principally decid 
uous, and the iands are very well sup- 
plied with small springs and brooks. — 
The Cayuga turnpike runs W. across 
this Town, and meets here a branch 
from the Otsego and Broome turnpike 
through Norwich. 

N.T.,J.N.,&D.M. 

Newbuhgu, a Posl-Township and half- 
shire Town of Orange County, on the 
W. bank of the Hudson, 95 miles S. of 
Albany, and 70 on the stage-road N. of 
New-York; bounded N. by Ulster Coun- 
ty, E. by tlie Hudson, S. by New-Wind- 
sor, W. by Montgomery. The area may 
be 30 square miles, and next to Mont- 
gomery, it has the greatest aggregate 
population of any Town in this Cuui.ty. 
In I8I0, the whole nnmber of persons 
was 4627, when there were 307 electors. 
It is a good Township for farming, and 
the inhabitants possess much wealth. 
The roads are numerous, extensive and 
good. The Newburgh and C'>ci;ectoii 
turnpike extends W. a Utile N. throug!. 
Orange and Sullivan Counties, to tlie 
Delaware river ; and the Newburgh and 
Chenang'o into the Counties further N. 
and W., opening an extensive and di- 
rect communication witli tne Western 
Counties on the w"aters of the Delaware 
and Susquehanna rivers. The last is 
also called the Appian Way, in allusion 
to an extensive Roman road of iha' 
name. The extraordinary spirit of en- 
terprise indicated in these and other 
roads, has not been without proportion- 
ate effects on the trade and population 



of Newburgh. There are abundance 
of mill-seats, on a small stream that 
spreads over the Town in numerous 
branches, and enters the Hudson at the 
S. W. corner, on the line toward New- 
Windsor. The Village of J\'eivbursh, is 
pleasantly situated on the Hudson, and 
commands a very extensive intei'course 
and trade with the country on the W., 
and by navigation of the Hudson, with 
New- York. Its trade employs near 30 
vessels, and few places on the Hudson 
are increasing more rapidly in wealth 
and population. It is incorporated as a 
Village, and contains about 400 houses, 
stores, &c., besides a court house and 
prison for the County and several other 
public buildings. The Town is hand- 
somely laid out in streets and squares. 
The (Courts for Orange Coimiy are held 
alternately here and at Goshen. 

A.,N.T. 

New-Castlk, a Township of West- 
chester County, about 37 miles N. of 
New-York, 128 S. of Albany, and 6 miles 
W. of liedford ; bounded N. by Cort- 
landt, York and Somers. E. by Bedford, 
S. by North-Castle, S. W'. by Mount- 
Pleasant. Its form, like most of the 
other Towns in this County, is very ir- 
regular ; and its N.W. angle terminates 
in a point on Hudson river. Its wa- 
ters are some small brandies of Croton 
river, which supply miil-seats, and a 
small head pond of Byiam creek, that 
runs S. to the Sound. Tlicre is little 
for local detail. The surface is mode- 
rately uneven, and the soil pretty good 
for farming. Its agriculture and domes- 
tic economy are much improved withiit 
a few years. In ISIO, the whole taxa- 
ble property was valued by the Asses- 
sors at §240,758, when there were 209 
taxable inhabitants, and a whole popu- 
lation of 1291. 

N.T,S.D. 

New-Lisbox, a Post-Township of Ot- 
sei<o County, 10 miles S. W. of Coopers- 
iown, and 76 W. of Albany ; bouiuied 
N. by Edmeston, E. by Hartwick, S. by 
Laurens and Butternuts, VV by Pittsfieid. 
The surface is broken by hills and val- 
lies ; but the hills arc either arable or 
good grazing lands, and the vallies are 
rich and lertile. Il is well watered by 
springs and brooks ; antl has Buitewiut 
creek running S. the whole length of 
the Town, on which are good mili-scats, 
as there are also on the main branch of 
Oiego crLLik, in the E. paitof the 'I'own. 
iiure are, in all, 4 or 5 grain-mills, 7 
saw-mills, a fulling-mill and carding* 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-tORK. 



245 



tnachine. Thei'e is 1 Baptist meeting- 
house, and 7 school-houses. The inha- 
Bitants are principally farmers, and 
their houshold manufactures supply the 
most of their common clothing'. In 1810, 
the whole population was 1982, with 
176 senatorial electors, 290 taxable in- 
habitants, and !glol,052 of taxable pro- 
perty, ag'reeablc to the assessment. — 
(iarratmille Post-Oj^ce is said to be in 
this Town, though my Correspondents 
differ in this pai-ticular. Tht County 
of Otsego, tliough it contain much good 
arable land, good for grain, may be call- 
ed better adapted for grass than grain ; 
and for grazing is peculiarly excel- 
lent. - 

N.T.,J.P.&E.P. 
New-Paltz, a Post-Tewnship of Ul- 
ster County, on the W. shore of the 
Hudson, 15 miles S. of Kingston, 80 milts 
S. of Albanj^ and 85 N. of New-York; 
bounded N. by Hiu-ley and Esopus, E. 
by the Hudson, W. by Rociiester and 
Shuwangunk. It extends 10 miles along 
the liver, and is from 6 to 12 miles 
back. The Wtillkill or Paltz creek runs 
N. through the W. part of this Town, 
and supplies mill-seats. This is a good 
Township of land, and its farms have old ■ 
and durable improvements. The inha- 
bitants are principally tlie descendants 
of the ancient Dutch, who settled here 
about 1670. Many of the houses are of 
stone, a common trait of the Dutch and 
German character. And lime stone, of 
a good quality for lime, and which quar- 
ries well, is found here in great abund- 
ance. The Village usually called Old 
Paliz, is on the bank of the AVallkill, 
over which is a good bridge. It lies on 
one street, in which are 2U stone dwell- 
ing-houses, and a stone Dutch Reformed 
Church. The settlement called Spring'-^ 
totm, is about 2 raiks N. of this, where 
are a few houses, principally taverns.— 
On the Farmer's turnpike, which leads 
through this Town, there is a beautiful 
settlement, where are some few dwell- 
ings, corn-mills and saw-mills, an oil- 
mill, fulling-mill, and carding-machine, 
all built of wood, neatly painted, and 
owned principally by Selah Tuthill. This 
is commonly called J^'eic-Paltz. Near 
the nver is a Quaker meeting-house ; 
and there is a Landing on the Hudson, 
with considerah't business. There are 
208 looms in lamilies, which made in j, 
1810, 57,729 yards of cloth for common 
clothing. The whoie population in 
1810, was 3999, when there weie 261) 
Jeuatorial Nectars. The iftliahitants 



own the .soil, divided into farms of a 
convenient number of acres. 

C.T.,&.S.T. 
Newpobt, a Post-Township of HerkJt 
mer County, 20 miles N. of Herhimer^ 
and 95 N. W. of Albany ; bounded N, 
by Russia, E. by Norway, S. by Herki- 
mer and Schuyler, Westerly by Oneida 
County. Along the W. Canada creek is 
a deep valley, where stands the Village; 
of Newport, or Bowen's Settlement^ 
near the centre of the Town, where are 
falls and good mill-seats, with some 
mills and a Cotton factory About one 
quarter of Newport is on the N. E. side 
of W. Canada creek, which is hilly, but 
interspersed with fine vallies of a' light 
easy soil. The other side lias a high 
ridge, with sloping arable borders, some- 
what broken, but which admit of culti- 
vation, almost williout exception. 

The general character of the soil anfl 
products is similar to that of Norway, 
except that the bnds are less stony. 
Along the creek, they are sandy, rather 
lighlbut warm. This Town was erected 
in 1806, from Norway, Faii-fie'd and 
Schuyler. In 1810, it had 270 familiee, 
86 senatorial electors, and the whole po- 
pulation was 1605. J\ewport Village has 
25 dwellings, and the Fost-Office, 13 
miles from Utica, on the road to tft© 
BLick River country. D.S.J.N. 

New-Rocueli.e, a Post-Township of 
Westchester County, 20 or 22 miles 
from New-York, 5 S. of IFhite-Plaim?, 
and 143 from Albany ; bounded N. by 
Scarsdale, E.by Scarsdale and Mam:i- 
roneck, W. by Scarsdale, Westchester 
and Felham, S. on East River or Long- 
Island Sound. There ai-e several islands 
in tlie Sound attached to this Town.— 
There is a Landing and business that 
employs several sloops. The land Is le- 
vel in general, and stony, but the soil is 
productive, and much of it is a wet loami 
or clay, good for grass. There are 4 
grain-mills, 2 of which are tide-mills, 
and some smaller works. Tlie Episco- 
palians and Methodists have churches 
or houses of worship, and there is a 
small academy, with a competent num- 
ber of common schools. In 1810, the 
whole population was 996, with 78 elect- 
ors, 175 taxable inhabi ants, and 323,294 
dollars of taxable property. New-Ro- 
chelle had also its Heights, known in the 
annals of the Revolution. See the His-" 
tory of the War in 1776, for a detailed 
view of the operations that have left so 
many remembrances, in tjiiis Town. 

.I.W„S>D. 

10 



2i& 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Nr.wtowK, a Township of Queens 
County, on Lont^-Islantl, 3 miles E. of 
New-York ; bounded Northerly by East 
river, E. by Fhishinj?, S. by Jamaica and 
a small an";^-le of Kings County, W. by 
Kings County. It extends about half 
way across the Island, and in the N. E. 
is bounded by Fhishint^ bay, and by 
JSTeWtown creek in the S. W. or west. 
Hurl-Gate lies opposite the N. part of 
this Town. The shore of East river is 
very rocky here, and they who love to 
witness the impetuous strife of angry 
currents with cragged and zig-zag cour- 
ses among the rocks, can hardly find a 
better place ibr full gratification. The 
Isind is under good cultivation, and pro- 
duces good crops of grain,, fruh, &.c. 
The Newtown pippins have a high ce- 
lebrity, acfaiowledged, perhaps, in all 
the Commercial States of America. The 
Village of JVc-tvto-iun is pleasantly situat- 
ed near the centre of the Town, and has 
.J houses of public worship, and a hand- 
some collection of dwelling-houses.— 
There are several handsome country- 
seats, and many gardens in high culti- 
vation. A toll-bridge across Newtown 
creek, which is properly a narrow^ bay, 
opens a nearer way to New- York, and 
proves as useful as it is ornamental. 
The whole population of this Town in 
1810, was 2437, when there were 248 
G€inaterial electors. Wood, for fuel, is 
very scarce^ and the inhabitants make 
considerable u:3e cf peat, taken from an 
extensive bog in the vicinity of the vil- 
lage. S.L.M. 

Ni:w-WiNl)Soii, a Post-Township of 
Orange Countv, on the W. bank of the 
Hudson, 100 miles S. of Albany, 5 miles 
S. of J\''e-iub:irgh,-^x\A 65 N. of New-York ; 
bounded N. by Montgomery and New- 
burgh, E. by the Hiulson, S. by Corn- 
•wall and Blooming-Grove, W. by Monl- 
gomery and Wallkill. Its medial extent 
E. and W. 8 n^ilesi width near 4 ; giving 
an area of about 30 square miles. Popu- 
lation in 1810, 2331, when there were 
147 electors. Tlrere are 2 Post-Offices ; 
JVe^V'Windsor v. o., in the village of 
that name ; and Lltth-Britaiu P. o.,* in 
a little i\€ighborhood usually distin- 
guished by that name. There are seve- 
ral small mill-streams, and the land is 
of a good quality for farming-. The in- 
habitants are principally farmers, and 
they enjoy iruich of the independence of 
prosperous industry. The liiglilands 

* Report say^. this Office ivas lUacontl- 
?nicd in Feb. 1813. 



that pervade this County, and the exten- 
sive ridges of the Apallachian moun- 
tains tliat traverse the W., give an eK- 
tensive diversity of surface, soil and lo- 
cal position, with an agreeable variety 
of views. The whole is well watered 
by springs and brooks. The Village of 
J\''e-iv-Windssr is pleasantly situated on 
W. bank of the Hudson, about 2^ miles 
S. of that of Newburgh, and has consi- 
derable trade. The roads are numer* 
ous, and the intelligent traveller finds 
an intei'est In the historic details con- 
nected with the events of the Revolu- 
tionary war, as he treads the historic 
ground of this region. N.T. 

New-Youk, City, the Metropolis of 
the State^ is situated on the E. bank, at 
the confluence of Hudson and E. riversj 
at the S. end of New- York Island : N-. 
lat. 40<' 42 '40", W. long. 74" 0' 45" 
W. from Greenwich, as determined by 
the eclipse of 1806. 

The City and County of New-York are 
of the same extent, and the general de- 
scription of the County, page 85, may 
be consulted for a concise view of the 
whole Island of New-York, while the 
present article will be confined to the 
compact part, or the City population, 
with its improvements, &.c. Agreeable 
to the Charter of New-Y'ork, its jurisdic- 
tion extends to the lands under the ad- 
joining waters, as far as to low-water 
mark on the opposite sides. Hence it 
happens that Governor's, Ellis's and 
Bedlow's Islands, in New- York bay, and 
Blackwell's, Parsell's and several other 
Islands of a small size near Hurl-Gate, 
belong to the Citj and County of New- 
York. The Bay and Harbor of New- York 
are separately described. New-Yoi'k is 
divided into 10 Wai-ds, beginning- in the 
S. .;— No. 10 is on the E. river, and 9: 
comprises all the northern part, from a 
little S. of Bellevue, to the N. end of 
the island. The whole population of 
this City and County, was 96,373 in 1810 » 
of which number 1686 were slaves. 



First Ward, 


7,941 


Second do. 


8,493 


Third do. 


7,426 


Fourth do. 


10,226 


Fifth do. 


14j744. 


Sixth do. 


112,86 


Seventh do. 


12,120 


Eightli do. 


9,128 


Ninth do. 


4,71^ 


Tenth do. 


10,290 



TotSlv 



96,3? 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORE. 



^4? 



To shew at one view the magnitude 
of the fiscal concerns of this City, and the 
/ various objects of expenditure, with the 
sources of revenue, I copy aitire the 
accounts of the Treasury Report, for the 
year ending Dec. 31, 1812, certified by 
the Comptroller of the City and County 
of New-York. 

CITY & COUNTY OF NEW-YORK. 

Account of Cash received and paid, //-om 
31st December, 1811, la olst Dcce-tnber, 
1812. 
1812. 

Faid for Alms-Hause, - ^74,488 SB 
Watch, - 57,521 78 

Lamps, - 27,326 78 

County Contingencies,40,346 73 
City Contingencies, 9.161 70 
Roads, - - 4,776 85 

Commissioners of 

Streets and lioads, 10,213 00 
Canal-Street, - 84,251 19 
Common Lands, 24,948 39 

Wells and Pumps, 3,574 82 
Docks and i^lips, 17,074 31 

Sundry Bonds, 360,265 40 

interest on Konds, 15,957 11 
Interest on City stock, 12,000 00 
Collect, - - 599 51 

New City-Kail, 90,287 99 

New Aims-House, 80,900 00 
Signal Poles, - 103 61 

Police GtHce, - 867 71 

Streets, - . 12,355 48 
Repairs, - 13,350 73 

Board of Health, 1,700 00 

Committee of Defence, 5,976 16 
Washington Market, 5,000 00 
Markets, - 687 91 

Balance in the Treasury, 31st 

Dec. 1812, - 58,724 34 



§1,012,160 38 
5811. 
December 31, Balance ia 

the Treasury, - S2,513 92 
1312. 
i^eceived for Ground and 

House Rent, - 13,122 53 
Water Lot, - 9,1/1 14 

4Jommon Land?, Sales 

t.ud Rent, - 41,383 68 
Ferry Rent, - 8,650 13 

Tavern Licences, 6,025 00 

3farket Fees, - 6,657 80 
Mayoralty Fees, - 729 50 
Docks & Slips Rent, 21,937 50 
Manhattan Stock, 940 00 

JSilance of Tiis, of 

1811, - 150,566 05 

Excise, - J- 9,089 46 



Vendue Sales, - 36,699 12 
Street Manure, - 4,969 55 
City Stock Subscrip- 
tion, . 700,000 00 



81,012,460 38 
The City of New-York, or the <:omp;ict 
part, extends along the Hudson about 2 
miles ; and j<long East River, from the 
S. W. angle of the Battery, near 4 miles; 
its width varies from a little mor^ 
than a half mile, to near two miles ; 
and its circuit is about 7 1-2 miles. The 
streets of the ancient or lower part, at the 
S. end of the island, are irregular, many 
of them very narrow and crooked, with 
little adaptation to the ground, or to 
the convenience or elegance of the City. 
But all the northern part has been more 
recently laid out, xuid with much better 
taste. JNXiiny of these streets are very spa- 
cious, run in right lines, and are .inter- 
sected by others at right angles. The 
ground is now deprived of much of its 
original unevenness, by digging away 
hills, and filling up vallies and marshes, 
and some considerable ponds of water. 
And the quays and wharves along the 
shores, are far extended into the origin- 
al Avalers that almost surround the Town. 
At present the surface has a gentle as- 
cent from the Hudson and East River.-, 
and which terminate in a handsome and 
central elevation tliat every where over- 
looks its gently sloping sides, and com- 
mands a fine view on the right and left^ 
of the Town, tiie rivers above named, 
and their crov.'ds of shipping. From 
the Battery, at the S. W. point of the 
Island, Broadway, one of the hand- 
somest and most extensive avenues, 
opens to the N. F.., and extends the 
whole lengtli of the Cit_v. Tliis Street 
lies along the height of land, and near- 
ly equi-distant between the two jioble 
rivers that lav-e the shores of this com- 
mercial metropolis of tlie United States, 
Greenwich-Streclp also commences at 
the Batter}', and extends the whole 
length of the City, one or two Streets 
baclt from the Hudson between that 
and Broadway. Pearl-Street, formerly 
Queen-Street, holds a very devious way 
through a compact and populous part of 
the City, on the E. of Broadway. But 
it were useles.s to detail the Streets^ 
though there are many that demand 
some notice, and Bow(?ry-Lane, and 
Chatham-Street, with Broad-Street, 
Wall-Street, and many others, .seem to 
challenge some partial notice. 
The iisuaJl tid^s at New-York are aboiiV 



248 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



6 feet, and the depth of water is sufficient 
for the lai'j^est ships, with a safe and 
good harbor of a capacity for tlie largest 
fleets, and very rarely obstructed by ice. 
The population, trade, and improvements 
of this City, have progressed with a 
great degree of i-apidity. In population 
and trade, it takes the first rank in the 
Union, and its wealth and prosperity 
can only be known by the vast extent 
of its trade. A very large proportion 
of the houses are durably and well built, 
of brick, and its public build mgs are nu- 
merous, and many of them m a rich 
style of elegant opulence. Among its 
public buildings, the new City-Hall 
claims the first notice. This is situated 
at the head of tlie Park, with its princi- 
pal front on MuiTay -Street, a little way 
on the E. side of Broadway. It is a 
stately pile of durable architecture, 
happily conceived and well executed. In 
this are held the Courts for the City and 
County of New-York, and here are kept 
all the principal offices also. This build- 
ing is said to be highly ornamental to 
the City, and good judges of these mat- 
ters speak of it as very honorable to the 
Corporation. And it stands on elevated 
ground, in the midst of maliy other pub- 
lic buildings, which it proudly ovei'- 
looks. 

1 he whole number of the Churches, 
or houses for Christian Worship, is 37, 
besides u Jew's Synagogue. Of these, 8 
are Presbyterian, 8 Episcop:d, 4 Dutch 
Reformed, 3 '-^cotch Presbyterisui, 3 Me- 
thodist, 2 for Friends or Quakers, 2 Bap- 
list, 2 Germ.an Lutheran, 1 French Pro- 
testant, 1 Moravian, 1 Roman Catholic, 
2 African. Several of these are very 
elegant, and well merit description, as 
St. John's, Trinity Church, Grace Church, 
St. Paul's, and several others, all pre- 
cluded by the brevity of my plan.* — 
The New-York Hospital, on the N. side 
of Broadway> is a very extensive estab- 
lishment, and the buildings are no less 
ornamental to the City than the institu- 
tion is honorable to its character. The 
Custom-Uouse adjoins the Battery, at 
the S. W. angle of the City ; the Jail and 
Bridewell are opposite the Park, and tlie 
Aims-House is in Chamber-Street, on the 
same square with the Jail, Bridewell, 
and City-Hall. The College is about 

* It is my intention, hoiuevev, to devo'.e 
\i''oom for a more minute detail of JYe^v- 
Tlork in the next edition of tins ivork, if 
Tshoidd be seasonably furnis/ted -nith the 
WQfssdry viat^rials-, 



midway between the Park and the Rivei* 
Hudson; and St. John's Church, reck- 
oned the most elegant in the City, is at 
Hudson Square, some distance further 
North. The State-Prison, already de- 
scribed, page 54, is on the bank of the 
Hudson, 2 miles N. of the Battery. The 
Library is in Nassau-Street, and the 
Theatre in Chatham-Street. There are 
6 market-houses, and a vast number of 
various buildings and works that merit 
a greater minuteness of detail. 

There are 8 Banking Companies* iri 
the City of New-York, with an enormous 
amount of legal capital ; and their hou- 
ses and offices, together with those of 
the many Insurance,* Manufacturing and 
othtr Companies, and various Societies, 
vtry considerably add to the number of 
edifices that adorn the metropolis. But, 
the pre-eminent features of this City are 
disclosed in its Commerce, which is of 
vast amount, and extends to eiery por- 
tion of the globe. See Commehce and 
Thade, page 53, for minute details con., 
nected with this subject ; and also, under 
Revenui; and Expenses, page 31> which 
will supersede the necessity of any fur-' 
ther notice in this place. 

The progressive population of the City 
of New-York is noticed under N.York Co,., 
page 85 ; and that it may appear at one 
view, through the different periods of 
time which afford data for enumeration^ 
I subjoin the following numbers. In 
1697, 4,302 ; in 1756, 13,040 ; in 1790, 
33,131 ; in 1800, 60,489 ; in 1805, 75,770 ; 
in 1808, Q3,530; in 1810, 96,373. But 
tlie wliole present population, could 
there 'be an exact enumeration, would 
probably amount to 100,000 or more.-^ 
In 1805, a Census was taken by order of 
the fjommon Courcil, immediately after 
the 5fel]ow feyer of tliat year had sub-= 
sided, when it was found, that of the 
whole pf>pulation, 26,996 persons had 
retired from the City during the preva- 
lence of that fatal disease. The follow- 
ing table exhibits the whole population, 
as ascertained agreeable to the above 
order of the Corporation in 1805, witli 
the several descriptions of people. It 
will be observed that the whole was then 
divided into 9 Wards. 

* For the number, SJc, of these, ceV 
pa£-es 48j ancl 54. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



249 



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t^ !>• h- a> (M x> io -^ c^ 



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COCOCO-*»'5T3<COC^'»-< 



The Manufactures of N.York, are sum- 
marily indicated under Manufactures, 
page 49, though that enumeration is ve- 
ry far from being complete, althougli 
founded on the returns of the late Cen- 
sus, And I might add a long catalogue, 
which, however, may well be omitted, 
as of too little importance for general 
interest : while it may be observed tliat 
in manufactures, this City probably takes 
the second, if iwjt the first rank in the 
United States. And there is no defi- 
ciency in the numbers or ability of me- 
chanics and artisans in all the common 
arts and trades, known in this country. 
The state of the mechanic arts is ever 
pretty correctly indicated in the style of 
building, which, in N. York, is brought 
to a high degree of perfection. 

I'he City and Harbor of New-York 
have been lately fortified against the 
assaults of a naval enemy at a very great 
expense. Works have been erected 
within the City, on New-York Island ; 
on Governor's Island, Bedlow's Island, 
and Ellis's Island, within the bay of N. 
York; and to complete a system for 
public defence, at the Narrows, on Sta- 
ten Island, the latter in the County of 
Richmond.* I am too little acquainted 
with these various works to attempt a 
description ; and can only say that they 
mount about 300 cannon and mortars, 
for the working of which near 3,500 men 
are required. Fort Columbus is situated 
'on Governor's Island, about a half mile 

* Report made to Congress, Dec. 17, 
Wll) ojt the 5tren^-lh ofJVew-Yovk, 



from the S. end of the City, and is a re- 
gular work of Masonry comprehending 
4 bastions and a ravelin. It has a brick 
magazine that will contain 500 barrels 
of gun-powder, with brick barracks foi- 
2 companies of men, and a furnace for 
heating hidls red-hot. Castle William.s 
stands on a projecting point of the same 
island, and is a strong stone fortress, 
mounting 52 heavy cannon on 2 tiers, 
under a bomb-proof. On the terrace 
above are 26 Columbiads, carrying balls 
of 50 pounds v/eiglit. Here are also 
magazines and barracks, and besides 
these are others also on the same island- 
On Bedlow's island, there is aslar-fort 
of compact masonry, with barracks, ma- 
gazines and an arsenal. On Ellis's isl- 
and, nearly W. from the S. end of the 
City, and about one mile distant, is an 
enclosed circular battery of masonry, 
with some barracks, &,c. The various 
works on the Island of New- York may 
be thus briefly noticed. The City Bat- 
tery stands at the S. W. extremity of 
the City, about 100 yards in advance of 
the Parade on the old Battery, and at 
the point of junction of the Hudson and 
East Kivers. 1'his is an enclosed cir- 
cular battery of stone, mounting 28 32 
pounders, and it has capacious maga- 
zines with barracks and cisterns. About 
a mile up the Hudson stands North But- 
tery, an enclosed semicircular work of 
stone, momiting 16 32 pounders. It has 
a stone magazine, cisterns, wooden bar- 
racks for the garrison, and a furnace for 
heating shot. Within the Cit}', and near 
the Custom-House, is a spacious arsenal 
of brick, and a 3 story brick magazine. 
The arsenal is well supplied with can- 
non, mortars, &c., on field carriages^ with 
all the necessary implements 4br service. 
About 3 miles N. of the old City-Hall, 
midway between Greenwich and Belle- 
vue, is an arsenal, a magazine and a la- 
boratory, built by the State, at an ex- 
pense of 8,253 dollars. The buildings 
are of stone and brick, enclosed by a high 
and substantial wall. The works at the 
Narrows, in Richmond County, are in the 
Town of Soulhfield, and are only noticed 
here as forming a part of the \arious 
works erected lor tiic defence of the 
port of New-York. These consist of se- 
veral Forts and Batteries, erected by the 
State of New-York, since the year ISOf, 
at an expense of £124,930, including 
the purchase of the ground. Fort Rich- 
mond is the principal work, situated 
just at the water's edge, at the narrow- 
est point of the pas.sa^e between Lor\^ 



.2:50 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



and Staten Islands, 8 miles in a direct 
line below New- York. It is a strong 
work of hewn stone, well supplied with 
all the fearful engines and appamtus 
©fwar. Directly in the rear, on a con- 
siderable elevation, is Fort Tompkins ; 
and Fort Hudson is situated a short 
distance on the riglit of Fort Richmond. 
A new fort is now building, which has 
not yet received any designation. Here 
are barracks also, with all the necessary 
buildings connected with an establish- 
jnent of this kind. 

The facilities of intercourse between 
!New-York and Albany, are noticed under 
Albany City, which see, particularly as 
relates to the navigation by steam, page 
122. And while adverting to steam- 
boats, I cannot deny myself the pleasure 
to notice a recent display of a fleet of 
them in New- York, in June, I8I3, 9 
were displayed at once in the Hudson, 
opposite the foot of Cortlandt Street, viz : 
the Robert Fulton, for the East River, 
one for the Fotomak, one for James Ri- 
ver, Virginia, two Fovvles-Hook ferry- 
boats, one Hoboken ferry-boat, and Go- 
vernor Ogden's boat from Elizabeth- 
town. The navigation of the harbor by 
S steam ferry-boats is a circumstance of 
no trifling importance, as it adds much to 
thedispatclijcertaintyand security ofthe 
principal ferries connected with the city.* 

* The follo-ivlng note on Has subject, is 
copied from the jYew-Fork Columbian of 
July, 1812. 

" Fulton's Steam Ferry-Boat. — Thk 
excellent machine, consistiiig of a boat -wit/j. 
ttuo hulls, connected bi/ a single platform, 
with a -wheel in the space between them, 
£ind rudder at each end, built for the con- 
veyance of passengers across the Hudson, 
ietivecn this cih/ and the city of Jersey, 
has got into successful operation, and pro- 
mises extraordinary facilities for travel- 
liv"-- Horses and -waggons stand on each 
side of the machinery, driving in at one 
end from a floating bridge ftted to the 
boat, and out at the other, -without raising 
cr descendini>- six inches in accomplishing 
the passagef row street to street on each 
side the river. The boat is constructed 
'ivith both ends alike, and never turns in 
.sailing, ltd goes back and forth lij chang- 
ing the motion ofthe laheeL Jl corps offij- 
ing artillery crossed in the boat from Puxi- 
lus-Hooh to this City, on its ivay to Albany, 
in 4 trips, on the first of -n-hich it brought 
4 pieces of artillery f6 pounders J and 
limbers, 4 'ammunition -waggons, 27 horses, 
<j?j(i40 soldiers, be^i^s other passengers." 



The various institutions and associa- 
tions for humane, benevolent and cliari, 
table purj)oses, form an important fea- 
ture in a great city — a feature, howev- 
er, which I canot attempt to delineate^ 
becauce I have not that full display of 
character which would be necessary to 
do justice to the subject There is a 
Tammany Society, a Free School Socie- 
ty, Provident Society, Mutual Benefit 
-Society, a Benevolent Society, Washing- 
ton Bpnevolent Society, an Albion Be- 
nevolent Society, a Ladies' Society, for 
the relief of poor Widows with small 
children, an Association for the relief 
of disabled Firemen, a Nevv-Ynrk Man- 
ufacturing Society, a General Society 
of Mechanics and Tradesmen, the Dis- 
pensary for relieving the Sick Poorj 
the Lying-in-hospital, the Sailor's Snug- 
harbor, a Marine Society, Manumission 
Societ)', Kine Pock Institution, City 
Hospital, an Alms House, House-Car- 
penters' Society, Bellevue Hospital, a 
Marine Hospital at Staten-Isl.and, an 
Humane Society, several Masonic Soci- 
eties, a German Society, New-England 
Society, the Society of Unitas Fratrum, 
or "United Brethren, First Protestant 
Episcopal Charity School, St. Andrew's, 
St. Patrick's, and St. George's Societies, 
the Society of Cincinnati, a George 
Clinton Society, a Society of Teachers, 
a Wilberforce Philanthropic A.5isoci?c- 
tion, and many others. 

The New-York Free School,* is now 

* And here again J must beg leave to 
introduce a note, copied from a JVesu-York 
paper, because it describes so noell an An- 
niversaiy procession (^f this Sckeol, and 
ajfordi the best possible display of its me- 
rits and siucess. 

" l^'^ew-York Free School. — This day, 
C-May 5, 1813,J being tlie anniversary of 
the j\''e^o-York Free School, tlie scholars 
headed by the teachers, assembled at the 
school-house in Chatham- Street, and -u'alk- 
ed in procession doivn Beeknian- Street and 
Pearl-Street to JVall-Street -■ itp Wall- 
Street and Broad-way to Chc.mber-Street, 
and througii Chamber-Street to the school- 
house. The number of scholars ivho loalk- 
ed in the procossion lyas about 800, 7iear- 
/// 200 of -whom -were girls : tlie number 
belonging to the school is vpivards of nine 
hundred. Among all the processions that 
have appeared in this city, and they have 
been very frequent of late years, -we have 
seen nothiiif^ -vkich has given us suck 



GAZETTEER OF NEW -YORK. 



•251 



re.Gfulated on the plan of Lancaster, 
v/ell known, though yet in its infancy. 
And besides this, which is now very 
flourishing', there are several other 
Schools maintained by private subscrip- 
tion or by tlie liberality of Relii^ious and 
other Societies, that well merit partic- 
ular notice, omitted only for the want 
of more minute information. 

The markets of New-York arc said 
to afford a greater abundance and vari- 
ety than those of any other place in the 
United States, excepting, according to 
the opinion of some, those of Philadel- 
phia. Tlie following copious details 
under this head, will show tiie correct- 
ness or incorrectness of tbese remarks. 

In New-York, every day, except Fun- 
day, is a market day. Beef, pork, veal, 
mutton and lamb, are cut up and sold 
in the public iivarkeis, by the joint or in 
pieces, by the licensed butchers only, 
their agents or servants. Each of these 
must sail at his own stall, and conclude 
his sales by one o'clock in the afternoon, 
between 1st May and 1st November, 
and at two between 1st November and 
1st May. r.utchers are licensed by the 
Ma^or, who ts the clerk of the market. 
He receives for every quarter of beef 
sold in tiie market, 6 cents ; for every 
hog", shoat or pig, above 14ibs. weiglit, 
6 cents ; and i'or each calf, sheep or 
lamb, 4 cents ; to be paid by the butch- 
ers and other persons selling the same. 
•—To prevent engrossing and to favor 
house-keepers, it is declared unlawful 
for persons to purchase articles to sell 
agam, in any market or other part of 
the city, before noon or twelve o'clock, 
of each day, except flour and meal, 
which must not be bought to be sold 
again, until fovu* in the afternoon. — 
Hucksters in the markets are restricted 
to the sale of vegetables, with, the ex- 
ception of fruits. The sale of imwhole- 
Rome and stale articles of provision, of 
blowQ and stuffed meat, and of measly 

pleaaivg scri.iations as this exhibitio?i of 
*' Utile children" -who have by the henevo- 
ISiice of t/u: public been snatched from ig- 
norance and vice, a7id placed in a situa- 
tion Tvhere they -will be prepared to be re- 
spectable and useful members of society. 

" Jifce)' the children ~vere seated in the 
school-room, specimens of their turiting 
-vere exhibited to the spectators., ivldch did 
Uonor to the abilities of the teachers, and 
the imlu-in'rj of the sdiolnrs." — £t>. Fust- 



pork, is expressly forbidden. Gut fatun- 
tried, sheeps trtftters, undressed heads' 
of sheep and lambs, hides and skins of 
all kinds, except calves skins, are pro-' 
hibited entry into the public market 
between May and November, on account, 
of the nuisances they are prone to en^' 
gender. 

Butter mast be sold by the pound, 
and not by the roll or tub. Persons 
who are not licensed butchers, selling 
butcher's meat on commission, pay tre- 
ble fees to the clei-k of the market. 

This market is abundantly supplied 
with almost every thing in its season, 
whicli the land and water affords. In 
an enumeration made a few years ago by 
several gentlemen of experience, the 
t species of wild quadrupeds fit for hu" 
man food, which might be bought in 
New-York in the course of the year, in: 
v/hole or in part, alive or dead, were in 
number, eight, the amphibious crea-' 
tures, five, of shell fish, fourteen ; of 
birds, fifty-one, and of fishes proper, 
sixty-two. Their names are as fol- 
lows : Quadrupeds .- bear, deer, raccoon, 
groundhog, opossum, squirrel, rabbit, 
liiire. .Imphibiovs : greenturtle, hawks- 
bill, loggerhead, snapper, tarrapan. 
Shell fsh : oyster, lobster, prawn, crab, 
sea-crab, cray-fish, shrimp, clam, sea 
clam, soft clam, scollop, grey mussc\, 
black mussel, periwinkle. Birds ; wild 
goose, brant, black duck, grey duck, 
canvassback, wood-duck, widgeon, teal, 
broad-bill duck, dipper, shelldrake, old • 
wife, coote, hell-diver, whistling-di- 
ver, red-head, loon, cormorant, piles- 
tart, slieerwater, curlew, merlin, willet,- 
woodcock, English snipe, grey snipe, 
yellow-legged snipe, robin snipe, dover- 
tie, small sand snipe, green plover, 
grey plover, kiJdare, wild turkey, heatk 
hen, patridge, quail, meadow hen, wild 
pigeon, turtle-dove, lark, robin, large 
grey snow-bird, small blue snow-bird, 
blue-jay, yellow tail, clape blackbird, 
woodpecker, blue crane, white crane. 
— Fishes. .- salmon, codfish, blackfish, 
streaked-bass, sea-bass, sheepsliead„ 
mackerel, Spanish mackerel, horse mac- 
kerel, trout, pike, sunfish, sucker, chub, 
roach, shiner, white-perch, yellow- 
perch, black-perch, stiu-geon, haddock, 
pollock, hake, shad, lierring*, sardine, 
sprat, manhaden, weakfish, smelt, mul- 
let, bonetto, king-fish, silver-fish, porgey, 
skipjack, angel-fish, grunts, tusk, red- 

Sdrum, black-drum, sheepshead-;lrum, 
dog-fish, killiiish, bergall, tomcod, red* 
gurnard, grcj-gurnai-d, spearings, gar- 



252 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



fish, frost-fish, blow-fish, toad-fish, ha- 
libut, flounder, sole, plaice, skait, stin- 
gray, common-eel, conger-eel, lamprey.* 
The Literary Institutions of New- 
York, are partially noticed under the 
several preceding divisions of this work, 
and it would be of little use to add a 
bare list of Newspapers, periodical pub- 
lications. Sec, &c. It may be observed, 
in general terms, that the City is well 
supplied with Newspapers, published 
(daily, semi-weekly and weekly, and that 
there are several journals devoted to 
literature and science, of respectable 
character, or of respectable promise. 
Printing is done to an enormous amount, 
and tlie trade in books probably exceeds, 
in aggregate amount, that of any other 
Town in the Unien, unless it be neces- 
sary to except Philadelphia. The Me- 
dical Society of the City and County of 
New-York, like tliosc of most of llie 
other Counties, has little claim to other 
notice, than that it exists. And that of 
the State, does but drag on a feeble ex- 
istence, of far less use or importance 
than it ought to be. The New- York 
, Library consists of about 10,000 vo- 
lumes, and is a pretty valuable collec- 
tion. The Hall is in Nassau-Street, and 
the holders of shares in the institution 
pay two and a half dollars annually to 
the treasurer. An Academy of the l-'ine 
Arts has been lately instituted in this 
City, and an Historical Society, both of 
t^-ood promise, noticed page 54, as is 
also a Chamber of Commerce, under So- 
ciKTrEs, vvliich see. 

The public walks and amusements, 
witli the many pleasing tours in this 
vicinity, form promineni features of ai 
traction toward the Metropolis. The 
Iheatre, Reading-rooms, public Gar- 
dens, the Park, and the elegant walks 
on the Battery, together with a great 
variety of other amusements and walks, 
afford diversion to all, and business to 
a great many. Nor must the Museums 
be forgotten. A tour to Utreclit, or 
Kew-Utrecht, across Long-Island, af- 
fords much of pleasing variety, and it 
is the nearest place for sea-air and bath- 
ing : And if it be extended to Rocka- 
way and I.slip, it is but to enjoy to sati- 
ety a prolonged succession of beauties, 
diversions and enjoyments. If a topo- 
graphical survey of New- York Island be 
desirable, a ride to Kingsbridge will 

* Dr. MitchiU. But it toiil be observ- 
ed that the regvlations of tlii market ccre 
litible i'j fifquf^l c'iarij-ei. 



give an excellent opportunity, and afford, 
an elegant display of surrounding beau- 
ties, emblematical of life, for they suf- 
fer by too near inspection. A trip to 
Sandy-Hook, through the Narrows, has 
many attractions, and by stretching oft" 
to sea a few hours, in a small pilot-boat, 
all the pleasures ar.d profits of fishing 
and sea-sickness may be enjoyed in a 
style of very peculiar excellence. 

The Charter of New-York was first 
granted in 1686, and has been often a- 
mended and altered. In 1730 it was re- 
newed, with many additional privileges, 
by Gov. Montgomerie, and it received 
the confirmation of the provincial Le- 
gislature in 1732. The style of the in- 
habitants in their corporate capacity, is 
" the Mavor, Aldermen and Commonal- 
ty of the'City of New- York." 

The City of New-York is governed by 
a Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and As- 
sistants, who constitute the Common 
Council. Each Ward elects an Alder- 
man and Assistant. The Mayor has a 
right 10 appoint a Deputy-Mayor, who 
must be one of the Aldermen elected 
by the people, and he has full power to 
act in the absence of the Mayor. Tlje 
Mayor may convene a Common Council, 
and he appoints the high-constable, and 
appoints and licenses marshals, porters, 
carriers, cartmen, carmen, cryers, pack- 
ers, cullers and scavengers ; and re- 
moves them at pleasure, lie also licen- 
ses tavern-keepers, and all those who 
sell excisable liquors by retail. The 
Mayor, Recorder, Clerk, Shcrift" and Co- 
roner, are appointed by the Council of 
Appointmenu The Aldermen, Assist- 
ants, Assessors, Constables, Collectors 
and other usual Town-Officers, are e- 
lected by the inhabitants, on the third. 
Tuesday of November. Every free male 
inhabitant, of 21 years old, possessing 
a freehold estate of the value of §50, 
for one month before the election, or 
being a freeman three months, and resi- 
dent of the Ward, having paid taxes, is 
a qualified elector. The Common Coun^ 
ell have the power to appoint a cham- 
berlain or treasurer ; to make laws and 
ordinances for their own good rule and 
government, and of all the inhabitants, 
to be in force for twelve months, and to 
contain a punisliment for disobedience. 
These laws of the Common Council re- 
late to many brandies of the police ; 
and are printed in a small volume, for 
their better promulgation .among the ci- 
tizens. They may establish as mauy 
ferries as thcv tiilnk fit, a.nd receive tite 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



2.53 



fees and profits. They may lay out and 
alter streets, lanes, alleys, highways, 
water-courses and bridges, throughout 
the City, and the whole Island of New- 
York. They may establish markets to 

• be held every day, except Sunday, when 
■* and where they choose. They have the 

assize of bread, wine, beer, hfle, and all 
other victuals and things set to sale ; 
but none of these Is exercised but that 
of bread. Tliey have, further, the pow- 
er to appomt guagers of liquors ; mea- 
surers of salt and grain ; surveyors and 
packers of bread, flour, beef, pork, and 
other provisions ; of carters, carriers 
and porters of goods, wares and mer- 
chandizes ; and garbling of spices, and 
other things of that kind ; with all the 

• fines and profits thereunto belonging. 
They possess, too, the power of making 
freemen of the said corporation ; and all 
persons exercising trades, or following' 
wccwpatious, in the City, (except in the 
puljlic fairs,) without first purchasing 
iheir freeUom, are liable to be fined five 
pounds. Aliens are forbidden to be 
made freemen of the City, until after 
they have been naturalized or denizen- 
ized. But this part of the Charter has, 
of late years, been but little acted upon. 
Preemen are seldom created ; ancl no 
prosecutions are brought against those 
who carry on business without taking' 
out their freedom. They have power 
lo build bridewells and M'ork-liouseK ; 
to appoint keepers and commit rogues 
and vagabonds. They may erect alms- 

- houses, and make regulations for the 
same ; and as many gaols and keepers as 
they may deem necessary, for the con- 
finement of traitors, felons, and disturb- 
ers of the peace. 

The Mayor, Deputy-Mayor, Recorder 
and Aldermen, are ex-ofHcio Justices of 
the Peace ; and are empowci-ed to hold 
Courts of general sessions, to enquire 
«f, liear and determine, all offences cog- 
nizable before Justices of the Peace, in 
the City. The Mayor, Recorder and 
Aldermen, are also declared to l)e Jus- 
tices of oyer and terminer, and named 
as such in every commission. The May- 
or, Aldermen and Commonalty, arc au- 
thorised to hold a Court of record or 
common pleas. In this the Mayor, De- 
puty or Recorder, may preside without 
the Aldermen or Assistants ; the lat- 
ter may attend if they please. In this 
Court there is cognizance of al" ''.ctions 
real, jjcrsonal and mixed. This r called 
the Mayor's Court, and may be r.djourn- 
vd for luiy time not ?x.<rf rllrs" tY>'cnty- 



eight days. The Clerk of the Common 
Council is also the Clerk of the sessions* 
and of the common pleas. The IMayoK» 
Recorder and Aldermen, may determijie 
causes, not exceeding forty shillings, 
with or without a jury. 

This Court is much confided in, as a 
tribunal of justice. Causes of great 
importance are often brought before it. 
Attornies and Counsellors are required 
to undergo special examinations j)revi- 
ous to oijtaining licenses to practice in 
it. The proceedings are modelled tip- 
on the process of the Court of King's 
Bench, in England ; but conforming to 
the constitution and laws of the corh- 
m on wealth. 

Of the Courts, and the various police 
regulations, I can say but little in addi- 
tion to flie above, within the scope Ot" 
my plan. See Government, &c., page 
25, for tlue general plan of Government 
of the State. It may be said, however, 
with great propriety, that the police 
and municipal regulations of New-York 
are among the best in America. 

There are many places on New- York 
Island, known by local names, princi- 
pally enumerated under N. York Co., p. 
85. The Botanic Garden at Elgin, ia 
separately described, and the topo- 
graphical notices, though more limited, 
than I could wish, cannot be extended 
here. For historical notices, see Histo- 
ry, page 59. C.,M.,E.,H.,&A.3. 

>ff.w-YouK BAT/^spreads lo the south- 
ward of New-York or Manhattan Isl- 
and, and is about 9 miles long, and from 
1 1-2 to 3 1-2 broad ; having Long-Isl- 
and on the E., and Staten-Island aixl 
New-Jersey on the wesU In the N. it 
receives the Hudson ;^Gast River, in the 
N. E., from Long-Island Sound ; com- 
municates with Newark Bay, througU 
the Kills, in the W., between Staten- 
Island and Bergen-Neck ; and with tlie: 
Atlantic Ocean by the Narrows, between 
Long and Staten-Islands. This Bay em- 
bosoms several small islands, as Gover- 
nor's Island, Bedlow's Island, and El- 
lis's Island, near the city of New-York, 
on each of which are fortifications. The 
waters of tliis Bay, form the Harbor op 
New-Yohk. From Sandy-Hook to the 
city of New-York is about 28 miles, 
and the water is deep enough to float 
tlie largest vessels Opposite the city, 
ships of 90 guns have anchored, where 
they lie land-locked, well secured from 
wituls and storms, with ample space for 
t';c largest fleets. The water in this 
Bay is very little less salt than in the 



254 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



open nccim ; unci iis currents are very 
rapid and stron^^ : circunnstances tliat 
are of {^reat importance in keeping' the 
port of New- York open, when others, 
still further S.. are obstructed by frost. 
Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Alexan- 
dria, are sometimes choaked by ice, 
while New-York is enjoying all the be- 
Bkefi'.s of an open and free intercourse 
wiih the Atlantic. The whole harbor 
Was covered by a solid bridge of ice in 
1780, but this has never since happened; 
and ihe severe winter of 1804, which 
completely choked so many of the north- 
ern and southern ports of the United 
States, scarcely occasioned any incon- 
venience to New-York. See Hudson Ri- 
ver, Loiig-Tsland, and New-Y"ork Coun- 
ty, for other details connected v.ith the 
lJK.y and Harbor of New-York. It will 
be recollected that New-York was the 
great rendezvous of the British fleet, 
dui'ing the Revolutionary war, from 
Sept. 1776, to Nov. 1783. This Harbor 
has lately been surveyed by order of 
the General Government. C.&INI. 

Nelsox, a Township of Madison 
County, erected from Cazenovia, in 1807; 
bounded N. by Cazenovia and Smith- 
field, E. by Eaton, S. by De Ruyter, AV by 
CXizenovia. It is Township No. 1, of 
the 20 Townships, as designated on the 
Surveyor-General's Maps ; and is 35 
miles S. AV. of Uiica, and 130 a little 
N. of AV. from Albany. The situation 
is elevated, and there are but few mill- 
streams ; but the soil is pood and fer- 
tile, and is not hilly. There are 283 
he;ids of families, 1763 inhabitants, 170 
seiiiiioiial electors, and but three slaves. 
The taxable proportyassessed on the Su- 
pervisors' books in 1810, amounted to 
giO»,100. Tliisis the head-land, between 
the waters of Oneida lukc, and those that 
run south into ilie Susquehanna: as some 
small waters form in this Town, and 
di.scharge thus. I have no account of 
tiie number of mills, &.:. J-B- 

NisKVYCNA, a small Township in the 
N. E. aujjle of Schenectady County, 12 
miles N. W. of Albany; bounded N. by 
the .Moliawk or the County of Saratoga, 
Sj. by Albany CotuUy, W. by Schenecta- 
dy. ' It is a small Town that ofters very 
Little ii-r local detail, and was erected 
in I8'j9, with the County of Schenecta- 
dy- Tne lind is pretty good along the 
ri'vi-r, but theie is much of it that is of 
an indift'erent quality. The v.hole po- 
])ulation of this Town in 1810, was 424, 
when there were 57 senatorial cleciwrs. 
i'or the Shiiktr scltkuient of JS'iskayuna, 



see Watervliet. Alexander's mills on 
the Mohawk, are situated at the bridge, 
on the Ballston turnpike. Here is a 
low rolling dam quite across the river, 
a place of some business in water-works, 
and a romantic prospect of the Mohawk 
and surrounding country. 

A&N.T. 
Noktu-Castle, a Post-Township of 
West-Chester County, 6 miles S. oi Bed- 
ford, 33 from New-York, arwi 134 from 
Albany ; bounded N. by Net?-Castle and 
Bedford, E. by Poundridge, S. Easterly 
by the State of Connecticut, and the 
Town of Harison, AV. by Mount-Plea-> 
sant. Bronx creek runs along the AA'. 
line, Byram spreads over the centre, is- 
suing from 2 small ponds, and MehanuS 
rises in the E., curves N. E. about, and 
runs S. along the E. line. These streams 
supply mill-seats, the Heights of JVorth- 
Castle, had a name in the annals of the 
Revolutionary war, and the surface is 
broken into hills and valKes, but all ad- 
mit of cultivation, either as arable, 
meadow, or pasture lands. In the de- 
scription of Bedford, I have been very 
minute in every particular, and that mi- 
nuteness must supersede a tedious repe- 
tition in the other Towiis of this quarter, 
the most of which are very small, and 
present nothing of great importance ta 
detail. In 1810, the taxable property^ 
as valued by the assessors, amounted 
to 241,146 dollars, when there were 237 
taxable inhabitants, 119 electors, and a 
whole population of 1366 persons. 

N.T.,S.D. 
Nohtiievst, a Tow-nship in the N. E. 
corner of Dutchess County, from which 
circumstance is its name, and is situat- 
ed 24 miles N. E. from Pmtghkeepsie ; 
bounded N. by Columbia County, and 2 
miles of the State of Massachusetts ; E. 
by the State of Connecticut, S. byAme- 
nia, Stanford and part of Clinton, AY. by 
Rhinebeck. Its form is nearly that of a 
boot ; 17 miles long, E. and AY., 8 wide 
at the top or W. end, 3 across the ancle, 
and with a foot of 7 miles in length. At 
the E. end is the Oblong, which forms 
the foot, extending N. to Massachtisctts, 
between Columbia Co., and the State of 
Connecticut. Its surface is broken by 
some pretty high hills, and is generally 
uneven, with tlie exception of a tract of 
pine plain near the centre. There is 
considerable of stony lands, arable, .ind 
excellent for grazing; but the range of 
hills called \\'est-mountain, is of little 
value, except for timber. Some of itg 
hills are granitic, and some calcareous 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



255 



TsgfBSi 



^nd shistic, with various intermixtures 
of silicious stones. Its waters are small. 
Ancram creek, or RoelefF Jansen's creek, 
which crosses the N. line for a short dis- 
tance, and then returns into Columbia 
Co., receives a small branch here which 
affords mill-seats. Wappinger's creek 
rises in Stissinpond, and runs southerl)' 
into Stanford. The tract called lJ,ule 
J^''ine-Pm'iJiers is in tliis Town. There 
are 5 houses of Worship ; 2 for Quakers, 
] for Methodists, 1 Dutch Reformed, 
and 1 for Presbyterians or Episcopali- 
ans : 6 grain-mills, o fulling-mills, 2 
trip-hammers, a carding-machine, and a 
machine for spinning wool, and 3 distil- 
leries. In 1810, the whole population 
was 3441, with 244 senatorial electors ; 
taxable property assessed that year, 
495,258 dollars. There were 31 looms 
in faniilies, which produced 13,300 yards 
of cloth for common clothing: — and 
3r25 sheep, 3000 cattle, and 880 horses. 
N.T.,C.R.,&S.R. 
Noiith-Hempstead, a Post-TouTiship, 
the Capital of Queens County on Long- 
Island, 22 miles E. of New-York, and 
182 from Albany; bounded N. by East 
river or Long-Island Sound, E. by Oyster 
bay, S. by Hempstead, W. by Flushing. 
The N. is indented by 3 large bays ; 
Hempstead bay on the E. line. Cow bay 
in the centre, and Little Neck bay in 
the N. West. Between llicse bays arc 
also head lands or Necks : as Cow Neck 
in the N. E., the northern extremity of 
which is called Sands's Point, on which 
is Mitchill Liglit house; and Great 
Neck in the N. West. On the S. this 
Town extends to about the middle of 
the island, and includes a small part of 
Hempstead Plains. On the N. of this 
plain is the ridge called the Spine of 
Long-Island, the higliest point of which 
is in this Town. It is called Harbor-IIUl, 
and has an altitude of 405 feet above 
tide-water ; being the first land seen by 
by mariners approaching Sandy -Hook 
from the eastward. Pl.-indome, on Cow 
bay, is the country residence of Dr. Sa- 
muel L. Mitchill. There are several 
small villages, as Success, near Success 
Pond, Herrick's, and some otliers. Tlie 
Village called Queens Court-IIouse, or 
North-Hempstead, wiiere the Courts are 
held, is just on the N. border of Hemp- 
stead Plain, in the S. part of this Town, 
and hardly deserves a local name or no- 
tice but tliat the Courts are held there. 
It is 10 miles S. of Sands's Point, or 
Mitchill Light-House, 4 N. W. of the \i\- 
lage of Hempstead, and 9 E. of Jamaica. 



The location of this publicbuilding,after 
tlie usual time of strife and contention, 
upon an almost naked and barren heath, 
remote from the conveniences of more 
populous districts, furnishes an admira- 
ble comment on a blind adherence to 
geographical centres, unmindful of those 
of population and business. Success 
pond is about one mile in circumference, 
and it was stocked with yellow perch in 
1790 by Doctor Mitchill. The fish were 
carried fi-om Ronconcoma pond, a dis- 
tance of 40 miles, and they are now very 
plenty in their new abode. The roads 
are very numerous, and laid in all di- 
rections. In 1810, the whole population 
was 2750, wlien there were 211 electors. 
See Queens County, page 95. The light- 
house was built by the United States m 
1809. See Sands's PoasT. 

S.L.M. 

NoiiTHFrj!i,D, a Township of Richmond 
County, at the N. W. part of Staten-Isl- 
and, 5 miles W. of Southfeld ,■ bounded 
N. and W. by Newark bay and tlie Kills, 
and Staten-Island Sound which separates 
Slaten-Island from the State of New- 
Jersey ; E. by Castletown, S. b> Soutiii 
field aiKi Westfield. It has little to de- 
mand minute detail, is pretty well cul- 
tivated, and has 3 churches or houses of 
worship. There is a turnpike from the 
head of the island to the new ferry in 
the S. W., across the Sound, where a 
toll-bridge is in contemplation. SJioot- 
er's -Island, at the foot of Newark bay, 
belongs to this Town, and tliere are 
some meadows of salt grass. In 1810, 
tlie whole pojndation was 1595, when 
there were 152 electors. There is ano- 
ther ferry, in the N. W., and one also in 
the N., opposite tlie late residence of 
General Morcau. The roads are very 
numerous. 

J.P.,&A. 

North-Salem, a Township in the N. 
E. corner of Westchester Counly, 53 
miles from New-York, and about 8 miles 
N. of Bedford ; bounded N. by Dutch- 
ess Counly, E. by the State of Connect- 
icut, S. by South-Salem, W. bv Somers. 
Its extent E. and W. is about 6 miles, 
medial width 4. Croton creek forms 
the W. line, and a branch of this, in the 
S. affords mill-seats. There are 3 saw- 
mills, and 2 grain-mills, vv itii some other 
similar works ; and a competent number 
of common mechanics. There is an A- 
cademy near the centre of the Town, 
and there are 3 or 4 houses of public 
worship. The inhabitants are piinci- 
pally farmers, and of plain domestic ha- 



25G 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



bits. Their agriculture is improving, | 
v-ltli an increiised care in the si?lection 
of the best breeds of domestic stock, 
and with the use of gypsum and other 
manures. In 1810, there were 183 taxa- 
ble inhabitants, 102 electors, and a 
whole population of 1204; taxable pro- 
perty, as valued on the Supervisors' 
books, §192,314. 

D.C.,&:S.D. 
NoTiTauMBEiiLAXD, a Post-To vvnship 
of Saratoga County, 11 miles N. E. of 
Ballston-Spa, and 44 north of Albany ; 
bounded N. by Moreau, E. by the Hud- 
son or the County of Washington, S. by 
Saratoga, W. by Greenfield. Its extent 
E. and Vv. is 11 miles, N. and S. about 
5. In ihe W., a high and rugged range 
of hiUs extend N. E. into Moreau, and 
E. of this for about one mile is a tract 
of rich arable land, the timber of which 
consists of a great variety of deciduous 
trees. The eastern part is principally 
a sar.dv pine plain, excepting near the 
river, where there is a great diversity 
of .''od and surface. Snook creek rises 
in this Town in 2 branches, which run 
N. into Moi-eau, and these are the only 
mill-streams, though Fish creek of Sa- 
ratoga L., along the southern border, 
affords abundant supplies of mills for 
the S. E. part. The roads are very nu- 
merous ; and one from Ballston and Sa- 
ratoga Springs to Glen's Falls, has a 
great deal of travel. In li'.lO, the whole 
population was 2041, with 184 senatori- 
al electors. Tlie northern post-ioad 
from Albany leads along the W. bank of 
the Hudson, and crosses that river at 
Fort-Miller bridge, from the N. part oi' 
Norlhumberland into Greenwich, Wash- 
ington County. 

N.T.,J.S.,&.A.C.B. 
NoRTnAMPTo:^, a Post-Township of 
Montgomery County, 1" miles N. E. of 
Johuunm, about 50 from Albany; bound- 
ed N by Wells, E. by Saratoga County, 
S; by Broadalbin, W. by Mayfield. It is 
about 11 miles in length N. and S., and 
4 miles in width. The Sacandaga river 
runs diagonally from the X. W. to near 
the S. E. corner, and this receives many 
gmall streams. The land is of a better 
quality than that of the adjoining Towns 
on the West, but still far inferior to 
.those along the Mohawk. Mount Joy, 
the summer retreat of Sir William John- 
son, is in t'ais Town, and affords fine 
sport for fowlers and anglers. A road 
is about to be opened from here through 
-the northern wilds of Mor.tgomery 
tOunty to tlie St. Lawrence, vhich will 



greatly sliorten the distance from Alba- 
ny to Ogdensburgh in St. Lawrencd 
County, and probably imjirove the value 
of lands in both Coimties. In 1810, the 
population of this Town was 1474, and 
the whole number of taxable inhabitants 
'242; of senatorial electors 125. The 
taxable property, real and personal, 
74,618 dollars. The Great Fly, (or 
Vluie, a Dutch word for wet or marshy 
ground,) is a marsh of near 400 acres, 
priuciiially in this Town, deep and mi- 
ry, and often nearly covered with water, 
d'urins: the freshets of Sacandaga river, 
into which Vlaie creek empties. This 
creek has a bottom of soft black mud, 
and is notfordable for Smiles in length. 
The marsh is covered with grass, and 
its bogs of turf have some low shrubbe- 
ry. The place called the Fish-House is 
in the great bend of the Sacandaga, 18 
miles N. W. of Ballston-Spa. 

N. T.,J.M. 
NonwAT, a Post-Township* of Herki- 
mer County, 20 miles nortli o{ Herkimer, 
and 90 north-west of Albany ; bounded 
N. by Ilussia, E. by Montgomery Coun- 
ty, S". by Fairfield, W. by Newport. Its 
extent N. and S. 5 1-2, E. and W. 6 
miles. About four-fifths of the whole 
surface has a gentle slope to the W., 
the soil a dark coloured grit loam, warm 
and productive. A tract of light sand 
occurs in the N., and of a cold wet loam 
in the N. E. comer, comprising, togeth- 
er, about one-fifth of the whole. The 
surface is considerably hilly, but the 
ridges are not very high, and much of 
the land is very stony. Beech and ma- 
ple, are the most abundant forest trees, 
variously interspersed with basswood, 
butternut, elm, ash, and some hemlock. 
Norway has abundance of mill-seats, on 
waters of W. Canada creek. Newport 
was erected from this Town, Fairfifdd 
and Schuyler, in 1806. In 1810, Nor- 
way had 235 families, 142 senatorial e- 
lec'iors, and its whole population was 
1466. 

N.T.,J.N. 
Nonwicn, a Post-Township the ca- 
pital of Chenango County, 100 miles W. 
of Albany, and 8 J«. of Oxford ; bound- 
ed N. by vSherburne, E. by New.Berlin, 
S. by Oxford, W. by Pre"ston and Ply- 
mouth. It is 12 miles N. and S., .and 6 
E. and W. ; comprising Townships No. 

* The Post-Office ii'as established in 
1812, and since the above ilnscription ivas. 
■ivritten. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



257 



15 and 10 of the 20 Townships. The 
Village of Norwlchj is near the N. line 
of No. 15, and JVoi'ih-A''ortvtch Post-Of- 
Jlce, is in No. 10. The Chenango riv.-r 
runs S. through its whole length, W. of 
the centre, and this with several branch- 
es, supply abundance of mill-seats. It 
is a gootl tract of land, and well water- 
ed ; and the soil is well adapted for a 
great variety of products. The whole 
population in 1810, was 2550, with 298 
senatorial electors ; — taxable property, 
as valued by the Assessors,^ §203, 81 6. 
There are 2 or 3 turnpikes that lead 
through this Town, which is rapidly in- 
creasing in wealth and population. The 
inhabitants make most of tlieir common 
chathing in the houshold-way. 

The Village of A'or-ivich, is pleasantly 
situated on the W. side of the river, 
nbout 100 rods distant, and contains 45 
houses and stores, and a handsome 
court-house and prison, both under one 
roof. A street of a good width extends 
N. and S. about 1 1-2 mile, and is inter- 
sected near the centre by others at right 
angles. The houses are pleasantly dis- 
tributed along \hese streets, and make 
a handsome appearance. The whole 
number of inhabitants may be about 

2ro. 

N.L.&J.N. 
NrvtiA, a large Township in the N.W. 
of Allegany County, bounded N. by Ge- 
nesee Coimty, E. by Ossian, S. by An- 
gelica and Caneadea, W. by Cataraugus 
and Genesee Cwmties. It comprises 8 
Townships, 4 of which are within the 
Holland company purchase, being Nos. 
6 and 7 of the 1st and 2d Ranges, This 
as a very valuable tract of country, and 
has the Genesee river running centrally 
across it to Xhe north. The alluvial flats 
that border this river, are very ex- 
tensive, and they are proverbially rich. 
The settlements are but recent, and the 
population by the Census of 1810, was 
499, when there were 99 senatorial e- 
lectors. The quality of the land, and 
*the general character of the country, 
may be seen in the general description 
of the County, page 64. Titles are good, 
and may be had either in fee, or by lease. 
The inhabitants are principally from the 
Northern States, or from Pennsylvania. 
The centre of this Town is about 14 
miles N. of Angelica, the capital of the 
County. The Genesee has 2 high falls 
in this Town, one of which is 60 and 
the other 90 feet, but about one mile 
;ipart. These falls seem once to have 



been as low down as at Avon, and to 
have receded near 30 miles. 

/ A.,&H.W. 
Napeage and NoarnwEST, see East» 

FIAMPTOX. 

Naples, or Ilr-NDr-usoNr Bat, extends 
from Hungry bay to the S. W., into 
Henderson, and forms a good harbor in 
that ToM'n, about 3 miles from the head 
of the bay, where a village plot is laid, 
and 6 acres reserved for public purposes - 
A few houses are already erected. See 
Henbehsoin-. 

Navy Islaxd, is situated in Nia^ara^ 
river, between Grand Isle and the Falls. 

The Naurows in Lake George, 14 
miles below the Village of Caldwell, and 
opposite Bolton in Washington Coimty. 
well merit the attention of the curious. 
The Lake is here considerably contract- 
ed, and small I'ocky islets are seen in 
such numbers as to defy exact enumera- 
tion. Seen from the adjacent high- 
grounds on the west side of the Lake, it 
is difficult to conceive a prospect more 
elegantly fanciful and pleasing. But 
all the pleasures of sense are derived^ 
from pleasurable association ; — and it* 
an agreeable party resort to these hills, 
where there is a fine view of L. George 
for about 20 miles, of the stupendous 
mountain scenery of that region, and 
return dissatisfied, then let them frown 
on this article, and wonder that I was 
delighted with the view ! 

A. 

The Narhows, between Staten and 
Loxfi-IsLANDS, are strongly fortified, for 
which see Soutiivield. 

Xevehsink, RiVETi, see Suxlivax 

COUXTT. 

New-Britaist, and New-Coxcori), see 
Chatham!. 

NEW-IlARTroRTi, a flourishing Post- 
Village of Whitcstown, Oneida County, 
situated at the junction of the Genesee 
and Oxford turnpikes, 100 miles wester- 
ly of Albany, and on the Sadahqueda 
creek. This Village contains about 65 
houses, a Presbyterian church, a gram- 
mar school, and some elegant private 
mansions. It is distinguished for the 
excellency and abundance of its agri- 
cultural products and improvements. — 
The Sadahqueda is excellent for mill- 
seats : such is the rapidity of its des- 
cent, as to afford good sites every 50 
rods. In and near this Village are 2 
paper-mills, an oil mill, a large cotton 
factory, a grain-mil', 2 saw-mills, a cloth- 



258 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



iery, 2 carding-macliines, a nail-factory, 
and a ti-ip-hamraer. See Whitestown. 

C.S. 
Nkwtown, see HAx-F-Mooif. 

New-Uthecht, see Utrecht. 

New-York Coujjtx, see page 85. 

New-Ybbk Island, see New-York 
CouiTTr. 

NiJtoAHA CouxTr, see p. 85. 

Niagara Falls, in Niagara river, are 
about equidistant between Lakes Erie 
and Ontario. The river Niagara forms 
the boundary of tlie United States and 
Upper Canada, the line of wliich is de- 
fined by the main channel of that river. 
The half, or nearly so, of these great 
Falls, is in Upper Canada, and the other 
half ill tJie .State of New-York. The 
Falls of Niagara have very deservedly 
attracted much notice, and have been 
so often and so well described, that I 
regret a necessity, imposed by my task, 
of describing this wonder of the natu- 
ral world in vhis work. A correct Ytcw 
is subjoined, and Niagara river is sepa- 
rately described. To conceive a just 
idea of the Falls, it must be understood 
that the level of Lake Erie is elevated 
above that of Lake Ontario about 330 
feet ? and tliat the siirface of the land 
is pretty uniformly level fiom Buffalo to 
Fort Niagara, with the exception of 2 
steeps of unequal descent, fhese steeps 
or terraces extend far from the E., and 
terminate at B'ack llock and Lewiston, 
rf indeed they ai-e not to be traced also 
into Canada. They are not ridges, but 
rather rocky ledges tliat bound the 
northern extremities of plains, as those 
<lescend toward the level of Lake On- 
tario. 

The immense volume of water that 
forms a river of a mile ^vide, running 
with a current of more than 3 miles in 
an hour, can only be conceived by lho.se 
who have seen large rivers, and have 
indulged in some habitual reflection. 
I liad enjoyed tliese advantages, and had 
read many good descriptions of Niagara 
falls, before I liad an opportunity to 
consult the impressions derived from 
personal inspecuon ; and still lie scene 
was altogether new to me, when I sto()<l 
and gazed and wondered at the sight. 
A broad, rapid river, poured at once 
down a precipice of more tlum 150 leet, 
into an awful chasm of about 3 quariers 
of a mile wide, and near 300 Icft deep, 
reckoning from the sin-face of the i iver 
bank ! 'I'lie hrst eftict of this sigiit is 
absolutely indescribable. -^ly head be- 



came giddy, and it seemed to me that 
every nerve was affected in the same 
way with those of the head : nor was it 
till after some minutes that I dared 
crawl along to the brink of the awful pre- 
cipice from which I designed to take a 
nearer view. This was from the Table 
llock, on the Canada shore, immediate- 
ly below the great Fall. 

The form of the Fall is nearly that of 
a semi-circle, with the longest line on 
the E. side of the grand central stream, 
or Horse-shoe Fall. And on this, or the 
American side, the sheet is separated 
by Goat Islai\d, which is about 330 yards 
broad. The Horse-shoe fall ma}' be near 
700 yards in circumference ; and the 
high fall on the American side, includ- 
ing the whole space, about 380 yards. 
Other estimates say less, and some also 
say more, but until I have an opportuni- 
ty for another admeasurement, I must 
compute the whole circumference at 
1410 yards. On the E. side of Goat 
Island, there is also another Island of 
perhaps twenty yards, between which 
is a small sheet of water eight or 
ten yards broad. With the exception 
then, of 350 yards, the whole space is 
occupied by slieets of falling water. 
The height of the fall on ti)e Americarj 
side is 164 feet ; on the Canada side, 
150, the results of several careuil ad- 
measurements. At the mouth of Chip^ 
pewa creek, on tlie Canada side, 2 1-2 
miles above the great Fail, the river is 
near 2 miles broad, and from this place 
the current is very rapid, with a descent 
variously estimated ; probably about 90, 
or pei-haps 100 feet. Opposite this ra- 
pid, on the American side, stands the 
Village of Manchester, 100 rods above 
tlie F;J1. I'he best near view is from 
the Table Rock, above noticed ; but to 
obtain a just idea of the countiy, with 
a whole view of Niagara, it should be 
approached from Lake Ontario. The 
spray that rises from llie v/ater at the 
foot of tlie Falls, reaches a lofty height, 
mure or U-ss curved to the horizon, ac- 
cording to the direction and force of the 
wind. But it always serves as the me- 
dium for beautiful rain-bows^ wHen the 
weather is fair. 'I he sound is heard at 
various distances ; exicniling 5, 8, 10, 
20 and even 30 mi!es, when wafted by a 
gentle breeze. I have once heard it 30 
miles, in a direct Hne ; and I think tliat 
in 1797, I approached withir. 5 miles 
vitlidut lu;aring any of tliul i>oar, which 

soon became tremendous from a change 

of Wind. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOUK, 



259 



It will be observed that the main bo- 
dy of the water descends at the Horse- 
shoe J'all, where it is also very deep ; — 
and running with a very strong current, 
jt does not pitch immediately down- 
ward, but curves in a white sheet to the 
level of the river below, advancing about 
50 feet from the perpendicular of the 
Cataract. The Fall on the American 
side, on the contrary, drops almost per- 
pendicularly, in a much thinner sheet. 
Below the Fall, the surface exhibits a 
singular unevenness, where ihe water 
and foam force up large spherical figures 
that burst on the top, discharge a cloud 
of 3pray, and subside to be immediate- 
ly succeeded by others in constant and 
rapid succession. This appearance is of 
course the most remarkable, just below 
the centre of the Horse-shoe fall, where 
the currents above, rushing together, 
tave also forced down the greater pro- 
portion of air. 

I have said abore, thf^t the great 
northern terrace of the high plain meets 
Niagara river at Lewiston, and along 
the foot of this is the Alluvial Way, se- 
parately described. Lewiston is just at 
the foot of this terrace, nnd here must 
have been originally the Falls of Niaga- 
ra, now 8 miles higher up the stream. 
The corresponding strata of rocks and 
earths, wiili every geological feature, 
carry irresistible evidence of this prodi- 
gious excavation. In the autumn of 1795, 
it is said a shock of an earthquake was 
felt here, when a large piece of the rock 
that formed the Cataract fell, and per- 
ceptibly changed the form of its curva- 
ture. Indeed it were altogether incre- 
dible to suppose this immense body of 
water should descend thus, and not be 
constantly weai'ing- away the rocks that 
lie in its way. How long it may have 
taken to cut this vast chasm, is of no 
importance. Nor can infidelity find 
here any thing to discredit the Mosaic 
chronology, however often it may be at- 
tempted. Feeble and ineffectual effort ! 
In the vast pride of self-complacency, 
the glow-worm would fain set a world 
on fire. 

J.H.&A.P. 

Niagara Rivfh, forms the communi- 
tion of Lake Erie and the upper lakes, 
with Lake Ontario, and the St. Law- 
rence. This river has been sometimes 
called the Iroquois, is 35 miles in length, 
of very unequal width, from 1-2 mile to 
6 or 7, embosoming several Islands. 
See Ghand, and Wavt Islands. At Black 



three quarters of a mile wide, as it is 
also at the Falls; in the broadest part 
of G. Isle, 7 miles, and at Fort Niagara, 
a little more tiian 1-2 mile. Tonewanta 
creek, enters the E. bank of Niagara ri- 
ver, nearly opposite the widest part of 
G. Island, as does Chippewa creek the 
W. bank, 2 1-2 miles above the Falls. 
A good description of this river, would 
fill a volume, and the curious would be 
astonished at the display of features so 
interesting in many points of view, and 
so sublimely grand, beyond all compari- 
son, 'this river affords a great variety 
offish, sttch as salmon, (below the falls,) 
sturgeon, bass, muscanunge, or musca- 
lunga, and many others of less note- 
The white fish weigh from 2 to 5 and 6 
pounds, and are taken in seines from Oc- 
tober to May, a most delicious fish, pe- 
culiar to this river above the falls, and to 
all the upper lakes. Salmon ascend the 
rivers to deposit their spawn about Sep- 
tember, and are then taken in great a- 
bundance. From Fort Erie on the Ca* 
nada shore at the outlet ol Lake Erie, to 
Chippewa, is 18 miles, with a height of 
bank of from 4 to 10 feet. From Chippe- 
wa to the great fall, is 2 1-2 miles along 
the Canada shore, with a descent of 92 
feet. Of course tue bank along this dis- 
tance 13 from 10 to 100 feet high, and 
the current of the river so rapid as to 
keep the surface in a white foam the 
most of this distance. From the Cata- 
ract, it is 7 1-2 miles to the Landing at 
Lewiston, and near here the bank is 310 
feet high, composed of strata of soft 
mud and sand, clay, rock of calcareous 
granite, and a superstratum of earth- 
There is considerable of descent in this 
distance, and the tremendous gulf call- 
ed Devil's Hole- From Lewiston to Lake 
Ontario, is also 7 1-2 miles, and in this 
distance the Northern Terrace crosses 
the course of the river, and the height 
of the bank soon diminishes to 25 or 30 
feet, holding this height to the Lake. 
The mouth of Niagara river is in N. Lat, 
43"' 14', and 5" 06' W. Longitude from 
New-York. The channel of this rivei' 
is the boundary between the United 
States and Canada. 
[ J.H. 

NiAGAnA,* a Fort and small Post-Vil- 
lage of Cambria, Niagara County, on 
the E. side of Niagara river, at its en- 
trance into Lake Ontario. Here is a 
Captain's command to keep garrison, 

J\'iagara, is said to be an Indian 



Rtrck, 2 mites from L. Erie, the river is I ivtfrd, sisnifyin^ across the JS'eck or Strait^. 



260 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



but llie works are going to decay. Tlie 
situation is commanding as a nnilitarj'- 
post, and lies immediately opposite New- 
ark, in Upper Canada. It is 15 miles 
below the great Cataract of Tv' iagara, 
and 7 1-2 from Lewiston at the lower 
Landing, N. Lat.43'' 14', W. Longitude 
/"Q" 51 '. This fortress was built by the 
Trench about 1725, passed into British 
hands by the conquest of Canada, and 
was surrendered by the British to the 
United States in 1796. So early as 1679, 
a small spot was enclosed with palli- 
sades here, by M. de Salle, a French 
commander, which served as a military 
and trading post. In 1759, Niagara was 
taken by General Johnson. SAV. 

NiAK Hills, see IIockland CouniT, 
page 93. 

NijrE-MiLK Creek, see Marcellus 
iind Cajiillus, or Otisco Cheek. 

Nine Pahtxehb, Gpeat, was a large 
tract of land granted to 9 Proprietors 
or Partners, from which circumstance 
it was called Great N. P., and it is at 
present comjirised within the Towns 
Amenia, Clinton, Stanford and AVash- 
ingtan. It extended from tl>e Hudson 
\o the W. line of Connecticut. These 
names are still in considerable use. 

S.Jl. 

NinePautxeRs, I_jttle, see Nouth- 

SAST. 

NoBLKTOwx, see Hillsdale. 

NoitMAx's Kill, or creek, a good mill- 
stream, enters the W. bank of ihe Htul- 
-.bon about 2 1-2 miles S. of Albany. It 
rises in the S. end of Scliolir.rie County, 
and pursues a devious course through 
Duanesburgli, Priu'^etown, Guiiderlandt 
and Bethlehem, of about 28 miles. — 
Near its mouth are vabjable mills, o\V)i- 
ed by the Mayor of Albany. It receives 
several branches, and enters the Hud- 
faon in the N. K. corner of Bethlehem. 

NoiiTii NoHwrcu, P.O., see NorLW^rcii. 

]N'owAi)AGA C'ltEEK, rises in Herkimer 
County, in the hills that form tiie Little 
Tails of the MohaM k, and runs N. E. to 
the Mohawk in Mindon, IMont;,^omery 
County, which it enters near the In- 
dian Church, after a course of 12 miles. 

P.B. 



O. 

OT.T^JJV, a Township that comprises 
the whole territory of Cataraugus Coun- 
ty, which is at present iinpesed-, for the 



purposes of civil government, to the 
County of Allegany. For its boundaries, 
see Cataraugus County, page 66. It is 
watered and bounded on the N. by Cata- 
raugus creek of Lake Erie ; and the Al- 
legany river of the Ohio, of the Missi- 
sippi, winds across the S. end, receiving- 
many considerable streams, several of 
which are boatable into the central parts 
of the County. The principal of these 
are Olean or Oil creek, in the S. E., with 
Great Valley and Little Valley creeks, 
and Indian creek, from the N., and there 
are several that enter the Allegany from 
the South. The settlements are but 
thinly scattered over this tract, and the 
whole population in 1810, was but 458, 
with 43 senatorial electors. The soil i.s 
principally a sandy loam, well adapted 
for wheat, maize, oats, flax, hemp, &c. 
In the S. are luxuriant groves of pine, 
intermixed with oak, walnut, chesnut, 
woods that indicate a warm and easy 
soil; and the N. is Ireavily wooded with 
maple, beech, elm, bass-wood, white a.sh, 
and buttei'nut. The general surface is 
hilly but not mountainous. The streams 
have few falls, and good inill-seats are 
rather scarce than abundant, although 
tlie streams are very numerous. There 
are 3 grain mills and 8 saw-mills erect- 
ed. There are some very small ponds. 
Lime is prepared from a calcareous 
earth, as in Allegany and Steuben Coan- 
tie-s, and there are some ledges of sand 
or free-stone. 

In 1803, a settlement was made at the 
mouth of the Olean, by Major Adam 
Hoops, when the only access was by 
a circuitous and indifferent road from 
Steuben County to King's settlement in 
Pennsy'vania. In 1804, a road was open- 
ed which afforded a communication with 
Angelica in Allegany County, the set- 
tlement of which was then in its infan- 
cy. In 1806, another settlement was 
begun on the Ishua, the main branch of 
the Olean, by Joseph M'Cluer, Esq. But 
the progress of these and later settle- 
ments has been retarded by the want of 
roads. To remove this objection, as 
well as to open a direct communication 
from the E. con, 'try with the navigable 
waters of tin- Alk-gany, §3000 was grant- 
ed by the Legi^lature in 1812, for im- 
])roving the ro.id between Angelica and 
Hamilton, at the mouth of the Okan. — 
.\t this place a Villr.ge was laid out by 
Major Ho..i)s in 1808, ai\d named in ho^ 
nor to the memory of the late General 
Hamilton. From JlamiUon, the naviga- 
tion of the Allegany is gocxl to Pitts- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



261 



ourgb. See Cataraugils County, for some 
notice of the trade with New-Orleans, 
^he settlements at present in this Town 
may be thus designated ; Hamilton, or 
Hoops's, IshHa, or M'Cluer's, Oswego, 
Great and Little Valley, andTnnessassah. 
The latter is on a small cr^ek of that 
name, and consists of a few families of 
the Friends or Quakers, sent by those of 
Philadelphia, for the instruction of the 
iTCighboring Indians in the arts of so- 
cial life. And hitherto their mission 
has been attended with great success. 
A H.>.B.,&J.M'C. 
Os-ONDACfii, a Post-Township, the capital 
of Onondaga Connty, 149 miles westerly 
from Albany ; bounded N. by Salina, E. by 
Manlius and Pompcy, S. by Otisco, W. by 
Marcellus and Camidus. The surface is 
moderately uneven, the principa' hills 
being 2 that run N. and S., forming 
what is called the Onuidaga Hollow. 
Tlie soil is a mixture of clay and loam. 
Well calculated for every common pro- 
duct of this country. Mud Pond, in the 
W., is one mile long and half a mile 
fcroad : — it is shallow, and may easily be 
drained and converted into meadow 
land. Tlie Onondaga creek in the E., 
runs N. to the Onondaga or Salt Lake. 
Tliis is the only stream, and it supplies 
Wiany good mill-seats. The great avenue 
from A-lbany to the western part of the 
■State leads through this Town, and be- 
sides this there are many other turn- 
pikes, leading in all directions. From 
the Village of Salina, 5 miles N. of this 
Town, there is water-carriage to Alba- 
ho and Montreal, with the exception of 
2 small portages. Gypsum and marie 
are found here, and lime-stone is plenty. 
Tlie lands are held in fee simple, but 
many of the farms are still mortgaged 
to the State for the original purcliase 
money. The inhabitants are very sober 
and industrious, and manufacture the 
most of tiieir common clothing in the 
houshold way. This Town was long the 
chosen residence of the Onondaga In- 
dians, a principal tribe of the Iroquois 
confederacy s and there are now about 
200 of that tribe here, who live 3 miles 
S. of the Onondaga Hollow Village. — 
Th^y are now very sober and well dispos- 
sed, and make no use of ardent spirits. 
See IxBiAKS, p. 57, Histckt, p. 59, and 
OsoKDACfA CouNTr, p. 89, for some his- 
torical notices. There are 2 Villages 
in thi.s Town, the largest of which is in 
the Hollow, and contains about 65 hou- 
ses and stores, an arsenal of stone, buiii 
by the State, an elegant meeting-house, 



an air-furnace, a post-office, and 350 in- 
liabitants, principally mechanics. This 
Village is 50 miles from Utica, and 5 1-2 
from Salina. To distinguish it from the 
on6 on the hill, it is called Onondaga 
HoUo-M Village. About 2 miles \V. of 
this is the Village of V'est-Hill, where 
are held the Courts for the County of 
Onondaga. It is also on the Seneca 
turnpike, 5 and a half miles from Sa- 
lina, and 149 miles from Albany.— 
Here are about 40 houses and storesj 
a coart-house and prison for the County, 
and some other buildings. In 1810, the 
population of this Town was 3745, in- 
cluding 17 slaves ; and there were also 
291 electors. The Indian Village con- 
tains about 50 houses, principally built 
with squared logs, with the spaces ma- 
soned with mud and rendered comfort- 
ably warm. This is called the Onondaga 
Castle, and the houses stand on a street 
of near one mile in length. See In- 
dians, p. 57". 

The first attempt at settlements in 
this Town by Americans, was in 1786, 
when Ephraim Webster, the present in- 
terpreter, removed to Onondaga, by con- 
sent of the Indians. He also obtained 
their consent for Asa Danforih and Com- 
fort lyler, wlio removed hither in the 
spring of 1788, with their families,— 
This was then apart of Whitestown, in 
the County of Montgomery. 

There is probably no part of the Unit- 
ed States, whose Indigenal History is of 
such importance, as that of Onondaga 
and the region thereabout. And, strange 
as it may seem, the early history of that 
region, which, of all others, is the most 
interesting in tracing the progress of 
improvement and the progressive histo- 
ry of the Man of America, will only at- 
tract the attention it so imperiously de- 
mands, in the remote periods of future 
ages. And time, which is so rapidly de- 
stroying all the records of memory, in- 
creases their interest in perpetual pro- 
gression. In anticipation of these facts, it 
were itiuch to be wished, that in the 
present age, some person should collect 
all that yet remains of the history of 
Onondaga, with all that Indian tradition 
has preserved. The present numbers of 
the Onondagas, as computed by Mr. 
Webster the interpreter, in 1810, may 
be 600;— 200 of v.hich are at Onondaga, 
200 on Buffalo creek, 100 on the Allega- 
ny river, and 100 on the Oiise or Grand 
river in Upper Canada. They receive 
annually 2000 dollars from the state of 
New-York, being the. interest of the 
2^ 



562 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



sales of the Military tract. Of this sum, 
one half belongs to those at Onondag'a. 
J.H.,E.W.,&S.G. 

Ontahto, a Townsliij) of Ontario Coun- 
ty, 20 miles N. of Canandaig-ua ,- boimd- 
edN. by Lake Ontario, E. by William- 
son, S. by Palmyra, W. by Peiifield. It 
was first organised in 1807, and called 
Freetown till 1808, when it received its 
present name. The land is of a good 
quality, but the settlements are of a 
recent date. Its waters are some small 
streams that run N. into L. Ontario, and 
a small branch of Mud creek in the S. 
%. corner. It comprises Townships No. 
1^ and 14, in the Third Range of P. and 
Gorham's purchase, and is about 9 miles 
m length, N. and S., and 6 miles wide. 
Some indications of iron-ore, of the bog 
kind, lead to expectations of finding 
that valuable metal, which abounds in 
the adjoining Town of Penfield. In 1810, 
the whole population was 904, with 98 
senatorial electors. The houshold ma- 
nufactures of that year produced 9991 
yards of cloth. There are 174 families, 
and 35 looms, 

N.T.,J.C.S. 

Oppenueim, a Post-Township of Mont- 
{v-omery Count}'^, 15 miles W. of Johns- 
\oiun, 56 miles from Albany; bounded 
N. by Salisbury, E. by Palatine, H. by 
Mohawk river, W. by ISfai-iheim, or E. 
Canada creek. This Town was erected 
ill 1808 from the W. part of Palatine. — 
It is a good Township of land, and has 
long been under cultivation ; first set- 
lied about 1724.^ The inhabitants are 
principally farmci's, of German descent, 
and characterised by habits of hardy in- 
dustry and frugality. It is well supplied 
with mill-seats. The surface is mode- 
rately uneven, and the soil is principally 
a strong loam or grit mold. It has the 
Alohawk turnpike along that river, and 
iuunerous other roads. In common with 
the other Towns of that i-egion, its inha- 
bitants suffered much during the war of 
the Revolution. In 1810, the population 
was 2693, with 424 taxable inhabitants, 
and the senatorial electors 251. The 
taxable property, personal, 35,822 ; real 
estate, 295,573 dollars, making an ag- 
gregate of 331,395 dollars. The Post- 
Office in this Town was established in 
1813. ^ .l.C.,N.T. 

Orancf.towS, a Township in the S. E. 
angle of Rockland County, 28 miles N. of 
New-York, and 142 S. of Albany; boun- 
ded N. by Clarkstown, E. b}' Hudson ri- 
ver, S. W. by the State of New-Jersey, 
and W, by a small corner of Hampstead. 



This Town adjoins the southern part of 
Tappan bay, a wide place in the Hudson 
so called, and it has a Post-Office called 
Tappan. Hackinsack river, of New-Jer- 
sey, rises in this County, and runs S. 
through Orangetown, where it supplies 
abundance of mill-seats. Slote Landing 
on the Hudson,^ has considerable trade, 
which employs several sloops. The sur- 
face of this Town is broken and hilly, 
and the Niak hills have equal celebrity 
for their singular form, and that they 
produce the red sand-stone, much used 
in building. It quarries well, works 
freely and makes a good appearance, but 
will prove less diu-able than marble- 
These rise almost perpendicularly, and 
form a most singular steep that ranges 
along the West shore of the Hudson, — 
Dobb's ferry, much known in the late 
war, was in this Town^ 2 miles below 
Slote Landing. The inhabitants are 
principally descendants of the early in- 
habitants who came from Holland, and 
are remarkable for their plainness and 
simplicity. There is one Dutch Reform- 
ed, and one Baptist meeting-house, an 
academy, and a competent number of 
common school-houses. There are 10 
grain-mills, 4 or 5 saw-mills, and 1 card- 
ing-machine. In 1810, the whole popu- 
lation was 1583, with 147 senatorial 
electors ; and there were 146 slaves.— 
The grave of Major Andre, of the Bri- 
tish array, executed as a spy last war, 
is i«. this Town, just on its S. line. 

P.S.V.O.&J.H.P. 

OssiAJf, a Township in the N, E. cor- 
ner ot" Allegany County ; bounded N. by 
Ontario County, E. by Steuben County, 
S. by Alfred, W. by Nunda. It compri- 
ses 2 Townships, Ko. 5 and 6, of the 
Seventh Range, in Phelps and Gorham's 
purchase. Canaseraga creek, a branch 
of the Genes€e river, aflibrds some sites 
for mills in this Town; and though it is 
not abundantly watered, the land is of a 
good quality. But recently settled, the 
inhabitant.s only amounted to 216, in 
1810. Roads are oj^cned to this coun- 
try, and it is rapidly populating by emi- 
grants from the Eastern States. 

H.W. 

OswF.cATGTiTE, the Capital Town of St. 
Lawrence County, situated on the St. 
Lawrence ; bounded N. W. by the river, 
N. E. by Lisbon, S. E. by DeKalb, S. W. 
by the Township of Hague ; being 1& 
miles square. But to this Town is at- 
tached the Townships of Hague, Ham- 
mond and Somerville, thus extending to 
Jefferson Cotinty on the S. Oswegatchie 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



263 



was first erected in 1802, and then com- 
prised Cambray also, now Gouverneur. 
This is considered the most valuable of 
any Town in the Connty, and will pro- 
bably, within a few years, be restricted 
to the extent of the Township of Oswe- 
J^atchie, as marked on the Maps of the 
Surveyor-General. The soil is of a su-' 
perior quality, and the surface level. — 
in 1800, this became the Shire-Town, 
and the proprietors contributed larg-ely 
toward the expense of the County build- 
ings. The Post-Village of Opdeusbuhgh, 
the capital of the County, is in this 
Town, which see. The population, by 
the Census of 1810, 1245 ; and there are 
122 senatorial electors. In 1794 or 5, 
Judge Ford, an enterprising proprietor 
and agent, gave a new spring to the im- 
provements and settlement of this Town ; 
and many emigrants from tlie Eastern 
States, have since settled here. This 
was one of the original Ten Townships, 
purchased from the State in 1786, and 
fii'st settled about that period. The 
garrison of Oswegatchie, which stood at 
the mouth of that river, was one of those 
surrendered by the Britisli, agreeable to 
to Jay's treaty. At this spot, was an 
ancient fortress, but of what date I do 
not learn. On some French Maps of about 
1740, I find it called Fort Presentation. 
The Township of Oswegatchie is pene- 
trated by the river of the same name, 
through its whole length ; and includes 
about 6 miles of the north end of Black 

M.K.,A.,&A.L. 
Otego, a Post-Township of Otsego 
County, 20 miles S. W. of Cooperstown, 
and 86 a little S. of W. from Albany ; 
bounded N. by Laurens, erected from 
the N. end in 1811, E. by Milford, S, E. 
by the Susquehanna river or the County 
of Delaware, W- by Unadilla and Butter- 
nuts. Along the Susquehanna river are 
extensive and fertile fiats ; the remain- 
ing part is broken and hilly, though its 
vallies are rich, and, tog-ether with the 
arable hills and meadow and gi-azing 
lands, afford a goad proportion of farm- 
ing lands. Otego creek, a fine mill- 
stream that rises inExeter.runs S. across 
the E. part to the Susquehanna, and 
there are some smaller streams. Eafts 
and boats descend the Susquehanna to 
Baltimore, and there are fine groves of 
timber. There are 2 g-rain-mills, 4 saw- 
ijiills, and 2 fulling-mills. In 1810, the 
population of Otego, which included al- 
so that of the present Town of Laurens, 
Y/a« 2612, with 216 electors, 348 taxable 



inhabitants, and 216,647 dollars of tax- 
able property. ]\Iy Correspondents com- 
pute the present population, exclusive of 
Laurens, at 1000, and thatofLaurensl5i2. 
A turnpike from Albany to Oxford and 
the W., leads across this Town, and it 
has other roads. 

E.C.,J.P.&E.P- 
Otisco, a Township of Onondaga 
County, erected in 1806 from parts of 
Pompey, Marceilus and Tully, 7 miles 
S. of Onondaga, and 50 W. of Utica -, 
bounded N. by Onondaga, E. by Pompey, 
S. by Tully, W. by Marceilus. Its 
length E. and W. is about 5 miles, and 
it is 4 miles wide. The surface is mo- 
derately uneven, the timber priacipally 
deciduous, but interspersed with pine 
and hemlock. The settlements are 
comparatively new, but the roads are 
good, running principally E. and W.— 
Tlie soil is various, but said to be pro- 
ductive, though the mast natural for 
grass. There is one Presbyterian meet- 
ing-house, and 5 or 6 school -houses. 
There are 2 grain-mills, 2 or 3 saw- 
mills, and some other works on Onon- 
daga creek, and some small streams that 
fiill into tlie Otisco Lake, which forms 
the western boundary. The inhabitants 
are principally farmers from the East- 
ern States. The population in 1810^ 
759, and 92 senatorial electors. 

R.E. 
OxsEce, a Township, the capital of 
Otsego County, with a Post-Olfice call- 
ed Cooperstown, is situated at the head 
of Susquehanna river, 66 miles about 
W. from Albany, and 28 miles S- east- 
erly of Utica ; bounded N. by Herkimer 
County, E. by Otsego Lake or Spring- 
field and Middlefield, S. by Hartwlck, 
W. by Richfield, Exeter and Burlington, 
lis extent N. and S. 11 miles, with a, 
medial widtli of 5 miles. In the N.W. 
corner isOanaderaga or Schuyler's lake, 
which discharges Oaks creek centraUy 
across the Town to the head of the Sii.-i- 
quehanna, just below its origin in Ot- 
sego Lake. This is a fine stream for 
mills, and there arc superior advantages 
also for water-works at the outlet of 
Otsego Lake, which is in the S E cor- 
ner of this Town at the Village of Ot- 
sego or Cooperstown. The surface is 
considerably diversified with hills and 
vallies, but the lands are arable, or fit 
for meadow or grazing, and are well 
cultivated. There are in all, 3 housea 
of worship, 2 of which are in Coopers- 
town, and 14 or 15 school-houses- Ther^ 
are 8 ffraiji-mills, 8 saw-mills, 3 fuUing;- 



264 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



■mills, 3 cardin.^-machines, an oil-mill, 
paper-mill, and 2 nail-factories. For 
its roads and a detail of many other im- 
proveiients, seeCooFERsvowN Village. 
The whole population in 1810, was 3810, 
with 399 senatorial electors, 547 taxa- 
ble Inhabitants, and g339,696 of taxable 
property. The flourishing Village of 
Cooperstoim is finely situated at tlie S. 
end of Otsego Lake, where it discharges 
the stream that takes the name of Sus- 
quehanna river. This Village is incor- 
porated, has the County buildings, 2 
handsome churches, 110 houses and 
stores, 3 printing-offices, a. great varie- 
ty of mechanical and mercantile busi- 
ness, and many handsome and elegant 
private mansions. It contains about 600 
inhabitants ; and on the waters of the 
Susquehanna are erected an oil-mill, 
grain-mill, fidling-mill, saw-mill, and 
cardlng-machine. Prior to 1790, this 
spot was hardly reclaimed from the fo- 
rest state, and was principally covered 
by a thick growth of lofty pines. This 
Village has a Post-Office of the same 
name, and is situated 66 miles a little 
N. of W. from Albany, in N. Lat. 42° 
44', 57' W. Lon. from New-York. It is 
21 miles S. of the nearest approach of 
Mohawk river, which is near the Vil- 
laZQ of Herkimer. 

G.P.,J.P.&E.P. 
Ovin, a Post-Township, the capital of 
Seneca County, situated 22 miles a lit- 
tle E. of S. from Geneva, 41 N. of Elmi- 
ra, and 205 W. of Albany ; bounded N. 
by Romulus, E. by Cayuga Lake and 
County, S. by Ulysses and Hector, W. 
by Seneca Lake, or the Counties of Steu- 
ben and Ontario. Its area is about equal 
to 10 miles square. The streams are 
only small ones that rise here and run 
E. or W. into the above mentioned 
Lakes ; but they afford sites for mills 
in abundance. There are 6 grain-mills, 
7 saw-mils, 3 fulling-mills, and 2 card- 
ing-machines ; — 9 distilleries, 4 pot-ash 
works, and 3 tanners works in this 
Town. There are also 167 looms in fa- 
milies, which produced 56,447 yards of 
cloth in 1810. Correspondents di^sciibe 
this as one of the best Towns in the 
Western District for wheat, especially 
for 2 or > miles along each lake shore : 
the central part has abundance of bass- 
wood," and is better adapted, for grass. 
This Town is pretty well improved, ex- 
cept in the S. and central parts, where 
Sire some wild lots. The County build- 
ings are on the W. part of lot No. 3, 
«t:> the N. li^'-e of the Town, where is 



a small collection of houses called Ve- 
ron:i, or better Ovid, as there is a Town 
in Oneida County of the name of Vero- 
na. It is already called a Village, by 
anticipation, and is 18 miles from Ge- 
neva. The general surface is smooth, 
with a gentle ascent from the lakes to 
a low dividing ridge a little W. of the 
centre of the Town E. and west. There 
are 2 ferries across Cayuga Lake. The 
settlements commenced about 1790, and 
the inhabitants are principally Dutch 
people, from New-Jersey. Houshold 
manufactures supply the most of the 
clothing. The land is held by right of 
soil. There are 4 meeting-houses, and 
16 school-houses. Fruits of the common 
kinds in this country grow here in great 
luxuriance and perfection ; and the 
peach seems here in its favorite clime 
and soil ; — remarks that apply to the 
genei-al character of the country situat- 
ed between the Lakes Cayuga and Se- 
neca. In 1810, the population was 4535, 
t]ie senatorial electors 276, and the tax- 
able inhabitants 580. 

J.S. 

OwAsco, a comparatively small Town- 
ship of Cayuga County, 3 miles S. E. of 
Jliil)wn-Y\\l&ge, 160 miles V/. of Alba- 
ny ; bounded N. by Brutus, E. by Onon- 
daga County, S. by Sempronius, W. by 
Skeneateles Lake or the Town of Aure-. 
lius. The land is of an excellent quali- 
ty, rich and fertile. Except the Skene-* 
ateles Lake, its waters are very incon- 
siderable, though a small stream fron» 
Sempronius enters the Lake near the 
middle of the W. line, on which ai'e 
some mills. This Town was erected 
in 1802, from the S E. part of Aurelius, 
a Township of the Military tract. Its 
surface, soil and products, like the ad- 
joining Towns, which see — In 1810, the 
population was 946, the number of fa- 
milies 516, of senatorial electors 89 ;^ 
and the amount ef taxable property 
38,935 dollars. 

W.S.,N T. 

OwEGo, a large Township, with a 
Post-OfHce, situated in the S. E. corne* 
of Broome County, 10 miles southerly 
of Spencer Village ; bounded N. by Spen- 
cer and Candor, E. by Broome County, 
S. by the State of Pennsylvania, W. by 
Chemung. Its extent is 10 miles N. 
and S-, and 14 E. and W- ; and it em- 
braces the E. branch or main Susque- 
hanna river, in a course of near 20 miles, 
running diagonally S. westward- On the 
W , it is bounded on Cayuta creek, and 
there are «onie smaller streams that 



GAZEITEER OF NEW-YORK. 



26^ 



«preid over the intermediate grounds. 
For boai navigation, and fo^ mills, O- 
wego enjoys eminent advantages. The 
face of the country is broken and hilly, 
with much of a sterile soil, and of waste 
groimd. The intervales are narrow in 
general, but rich. Boats of 10 tons na- 
vigate the Susquehanna, and rafts des- 
cend it in time of fi'esltets, spring and 
fall. There are 25 grain and saw-mills. 
1 or 2 carding-machines, a fulling-mill, 
and some other water works. There 
are 10 school-houses, and societies of 
Baptists and Metiiodists are about to 
erect meeting-houses. Tlie lands are 
held in fee, and the inhabitants manu- 
facture their own clothing in their own 
houses, from the growth of their own 
farms. There is a Post-Oflice, called 
Smithsboro\ from the name of a very 
small Village, which is 10 fniles W. of 
Owego Village in Broome County, 11 
miles from Athens in Pennsylvania, and 
180 miles from Albany The hilly lands 
are productive, and tlie country is said 
by Correspondents to yield the best of 
fruit The population is 1083, the se- 
natorial electors are 65, and there are 
about 150 freeholders. Tlie settlements 
were first made about 1787. The Great 
Bend and Bath turnpike leads along the 
N. side of the Susquehanna, and is much 
travelled. 

J.S.B. 
OxFOHD, a Post-Township of Chenan- 
go County, 8 miles S of JsTorwich, and 
110 miles W. of Albany ; bounded N. 
by Preston and Norwich, E. by Otsego 
County or the Unadilla river, S. by Je- 
richo. It is a good Township of land, 
and includes the Village of Oxford — 
There is also a Posi-Office called Knupps- 
burg-h P.O ; and there are 2 turnpikes 
that extend from the Hudson, one of 
which is from Albany, and one from 
New-Burgh. The whole population of 
this Town in 1810, was 2988, when there 
were 302 senatorial electors ; and the 
whole amount of taxable property as- 
sessed that year was §218,624. 'The 
Unadilla river forms the E. boundary, 
and it has the Chenango river across 
the N. W. part, on w^hich is the Village 
of Oxford. These streams supply a- 
bundance of mill-seats, on which are 
erected very valuable mills, several of 
which are owned by the celebrated 
Bridge Architect, Theod&re Burr. On 
a high bank of this river, are the re- 
mains of an ancient fort, enclosing about 
one acre. The ditch enclosing it is now 
near 3 feet deep, and the wliolc area 



was found covered by heavy timber in 
1788. Human bones are dug from the 
earth, and well burnt bricks of a com- 
mon shape, have been taken from a 
depth of 4 or 5 feet. We know not 
when this work was erected, or by 
whom, but no doubt now remains of its 
having once been a work of very con- 
siderable labour. The Village of Ox- 
ford is incorporated, and contains 6-t 
houses, and <an incorporated Academy. 
The whole number of inhabitants is lit- 
tle short of 400, and its population is 
rapidly increasing. The Appian Way, 
or New-Burgh turnpike terminates here, 
and there is a handsome bridge across 
the Chenango, near the centre of the 
Village, which is on both sides of the 
river. 

N.L.ScJ.N. 

Oysteh-Bay, a Post-Township at the 
E. extremity of Queens County on Long- 
Island, 28 miles E. of New-York, and 
128 from Albany ; bounded N. by Long- 
Island Sound, E. by Huntington in Sul- 
folk County, S. by the Atlantic Ocean, 
\r. by Hempstead and North-Hemp- 
slead. Jeriilio Posi-OJ/icef is also in 
this Town, near the geograpliical cen- 
tre. There are manj' places known by 
local names, too inconsiderable for no- 
tice. On the N., next the Sound, is 
Cove-Neck, Rocky-Point, Hog'-Island, 
Oyster-Bay and Harbor, on the S. side 
of which is the Village of Oyster-Bay, 
and Matinicock Point; and on the N.W., 
Hempstead-Bay and Harbor, from which 
extends Musqueto-Cove. On the S., 
next the Atlantic, is another long list 
of names of even less importance, and 
the central parts are occupied by nu- 
merous small Villas or Seats or Set- 
tlements. The principal of these are 
Jericho, WolverhoUow, Norwich, and 
Jerusalem, the last of which is in the 
Brushy Plains on the south. The sliorcs 
are much indented with bays, and iu 
the S. are many islands. The land is of 
various qualities and kinds, and its ge- 
neral description may be found in that 
of the County, or of Long-Island. T\\o 
whole population in 1810, was 4725, 
with 332 senatorial electors. There are 
some small streams that supply mills, 
but the principal dependence is on tide- 
mills. The inhabitants of Oyster-Bay 
Village still show a rock there, on which 
George I"'ox, the venerable Apostle of 
the Quakers, stood to preach, in the 
year 1672. See Flushing. 

s.LJvr. 



266 



GAZETIEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Oaks Creek, rises in Schuyler's Lake, 
or L. Caiiaderapa, in Otsef^ro. ^"^ runs 
southerly ten miles to the Susquehanna, 
o miles below its head in Lake Otsego. 
On this stream are 4 grain-mills, 4 saw- 
jnills, 2 fulling-mills. 4 carding-ma- 
chines, an extensive Cotton factory, and 
a nail factory. 

G.P. 

Oak-Hill, see Duhham. 

Oblong, llie name applied to a tract 
of land ceded to this State by the State 
of Connecticut in 1731, as an equivalent 
for the Towns of Greenwich and Stam- 
ford, in the S. W. corner of Connecti- 
cut, released to that i^tale. Or rather 
as the condition of final and amicable 
stdjustment of clashing claims to terri- 
lory, founded on the original charters. 
This tract is two miles wide, and ex- 
trends from the S. E. angle of Westches- 
ter County, to the N. W. corner of Con- 
necticut, a distance of about 57 miles. 
S.R.&B.M. 
Oghessbuiigh, a thriving Post-Vil- 
lag-e, the capital of 5t. Lawrence Coun- 
ty, is situated on the E. side of the Os- 
M'egatchie, at its confluence with the 
St. Lawrence, and in the Town of Os- 
■wegatchie. It is 596 miles from Wash- 
ington, 212 N. W. of Albany, and 116 
jniles N. of Utica. The importance of 
tills spot seems to have been long 
known ; and the garrison kept here by 
tlie British, was designed as well to 
f>rotect the trade of the St. Lawrence, 
ss to form a military post in the line of 
general defence. The sale of the 10 
Townships, was without reservation ; 
and the military works became of course 
the i)roperty of the purchasers. In Au- 
gust, 1796, Mr. N.Ford took jiossession 
ef the garrison, in bahulf of tiic propri- 
etors ; at which time it was in a very 
ruinous condition. 'Ihe fort consisted 
of iwo stone buildings, of 2 stories, a 
Iwmb-proof, a row ot v. ooden barracks, 
and 3 or 4 other wooden buildinj^s. The 
,harb'>p is spacious and safe. 'I'he Vil- 
lage now contains 60 to 70 hou.ses, 
jaoslly two story. A weekly paper is 
now published here. The cour.t-house 
is a Lirgc well finishf.d builduig; and 
there are a considerable number of store- 
houses, one of which is 3 story, 120 by 
60 feet. There are 3 large schooners 
belonging to this port, employed from 
April to December iu transjiorting tlie 
produce of Ontario li'om its diftercnt 
ports, to Ogdensburgh j whence it des- 
<r,erds ia arks and keel-boats to Mon- 
treal. On the op]>>iitc shore of tlie Os- 



wegatchie, is a large grain-mill with 4 
run of stoRiJ, 2 saw-mills, a clothiery 
which dresses 4000 yards of cloth annu- 
ally, a large tannery, and a carding-ma- 
chine. In the harbor, opposite the old 
garrison, is a wreck of a vessel of about 
70 feet keel, a few rods from the shore, 
sunk by accident during the Ilevolu- 
tionary war. 

N,F.,A.,M.K.,&J.S.C. 

Olbenbahnevelk, or Trentom Vil- 
lage, see Trenton. 

Olean, or Oil Cheek, rises in the N.E. 
part of (jataraugus County, and runs S. 
to the Allegany at the Village of Ha- 
milton. Its whole course may be 25 
miles. 

Oneida Countt, seepage 87; Onon- 
daga County, 89 ; Ontario Countt, 
91 ; OhangeOohntx, 92 ; Otsego CotrN- 
ty, 94. 

•Oneida Creek, a water of Oneida L., 
rises in Eaton and Smithfield, Madison 
County, runs northerly into Oneida L. at 
its S. eastern extremity, and forms the 
divisional line between Oneida and Ma- 
dison Cos., abont 17 miles of its course. 
It is capable of being improved for boat 
navigation about 9 miles from its mouth, 
where stands the old Oneida Castle, at 
the crossing of tlie Seneca turnpike. — 
Towards its head, it furnishes many 
good sites for mills, and its comparative 
course is about 25 miles. S.C. 

Oneida Lake, principally in the Coun- 
ty of Oneida, extends E. and W. near 
20 miles, with a medial width of 3 or 
3 1-2 miles. It receives Wood Creek 
at its E. end, and discharges Oswego 
river from the W., through which wa- 
ters, with the aid of some canals and 
locks and a short portage, is the com- 
munication between the Mohawk andL. 
Ontario. The Oneida Lake is said to 
have a greater variety and abundance of 
fish than any other in the Western re- 
gion of this State. Among the most 
admired fish are salmon, pike, Oswego 
and white bass, trout, cat-fish, with a 
great variety of others, and eels of a su- 
perior quality, and in vast abundance. 
At tiie entrance of Wood Creek, stood 
the Block-House called Fort-Royal, and 
at the W. end was Fort-Brewerton. At 
the E. end, and along- the southern 
shore tlie lands are principally settled, 
but on tiie N. are yet comparatively 
wild, though here is the village of Kot- 
derdam. Besides Wood Creek, noticed 
above, this Lake receives the waters of 
Oneida :md thitteningo Crc§ks, v^i^ 
sev.^ral otb'jr f m:dl streunis. 



GAZETl^EER OF NEW- YORK. 



267 



ONOxnACA, or Salt Lake, is situated 
an the County of Onondaga, 7 miles N. 
of Onondaga, and near Seneca river, 
into which it empties from the N. end. 
It is a small collection of dirty water, 
not exceeding 6 miles in length, and 
1 1-2 in width ; and on its borders are 
the justly celebrated Salines or Salt 
Springs, the largest and strongest in 
America. No part of the United States 
has a more interesting field for mineral- 
cgical enquiry, and none whose Indige- 
nal history is so important in tracing 
the history of the Red Man of America, 
as that which embraces this Lake. See 
History, Indians, Onondaga and Ononda- 
ga County ; and for the Salt works on 
this Lake, see Salina. It receives seve- 
ral small streams, the largest of which 
are Onondaga and Otisco creeks. 

OxTARio, Lake, the northern one of 
that grand chain which divide the U- 
nited States from the British Posses- 
sions in Upper Canada, is situated be- 
tween N. Lat. 43° c;nd 44°, and 2" and 
6" W. Longitude from New-York. Its 
form is elliptical, and a central line from 
one extreme to the other measures about 
190 miles ; greatest width 55 miles, and 
its medial width may be near 40 miles. 
The St. Lawrence issues from the N. end 
of this Lake, which receives the Niaga- 
ra river toward its western extremity ; 
and from the entrance of this river to 
the eastern extremity of the Lake, its 
centre forms the boundary toward Ca- 
nada. Near half, therefore, of Lake On- 
tario is within the State of New-York. 
It is a very deep Lake, with sufficient 
water in every part, but it has few good 
harbors. Besides Niagara river above 
named, L. Ontario receives from this 
State several considerable rivers, the 
largest of which are Genesee, Oswego, 
and Black rivers, with a large number 
of creeks, for an enumeration of which 
see pages 11 and 12. Among its Bays, 
the largest in this State is Himgi-y Bay, 
at the E. end, and Sodus and Little So- 
dus Bays, with Teoronto or Gerundegut 
and Braddock's Bays on the S. shore. 
Stony and Grenadier Islands, at the E. 
end, are the principal and almost the 
only Islands of this great Lake, if we 
except those around ths Bay of Qiiinte 
in Canada, of very great e.\tent. Bur- 
lington Bay, at the W. end, belongs to 
Canada. Wolfe, or Grand Island, lies 
rather in the St. Lawrence, though im- 
mediately at the outlet of the Lake, and 
the 1000 Isles are well known as occu- 
pying several miles of the St. Lawrence " 



immediately below Wolfe Island. Lake 
Ontario abounds with a great variety c^ 
fisii and of an excellent flavor ; and the 
Oswego bass have a higli reputation, as 
have the salmon and several other kinds. 
In this State, the shore of Lake Ontario 
embraces a great variety of land, but 
the most of it is pretty good, with the 
single exception of marshy ground. A- 
long its southern border, at a distance 
of 7 to 10 miles, lies the Alluvial Way, 
a singular work of nature, separately 
described. The level of Lake Ontario 
is 329 feet below that of L. Erie, 21 
miles apart in the nearest place, and 
196 feet above tide water of tlie Hudson 
at Albany. See Mohawk River. 

J.G. 
OatTAGo Village and Post-Office, see 
Winds OH. 

OswERATCHiE RiTER, a Considerable 
stream of St. Lawrence County, which 
enters the E. bank of the St. Lawrence 
at Ogdensburgh. It consists of 2 prin- 
cipal branches, which unite about 4 
miles before it enters the St. Lawrence, 
fi-equently designated as the E. and W. 
branches ; but in strict propriety, and 
conformable to the practice of the inha- 
bitants, the W. branch should be known 
only as Ixdian Riveii, which see, while 
the E. branch retains the name of Os- 
luegatchie. This rises in the S. W. ex- 
tremity of the County, on the borders of 
Montgomery Co., from which it may 
receive some small streamlets, and 
bends away westward till within 12 or 
13 miles of the St. Lawrence, where it 
turns southerly about 5 miles and cross- 
es into Jefferson County 1^ mile ; then 
bows short about to the N. E. through 
Somerville, Gouverneur and DeKalb 25 
to 30 miles ; thence N. W., and N- 
through Oswegatchie to the St. Law- 
rence. Its whole comparative course, 
may be about 120 miles. 

Oswego River, issues from the W. 
end of Oneida Lake, and runs W. and 
N. to Lake Ontario at Oswego. After a 
very crooked course of near 18 miles, 
it meets Seneca river at & River Point, 
whence to its mouth is 24 miles, its 
course about N. W. This is a rapid 
stream, and its navigation is improved 
by locks and canals. The principal fall, 
is in Volney, 12 miles from Oswego. 
This stream, like Seneca river, is par- 
tially known by various names, and for 
the numerous lakes, ponds and creeks, 
that contribute their waters, see page 
12. It is an importaut stream, and ilir 



;0o 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



its navigation, see Scriba, Hannibal and 
Oswego. 

Oswego Village, see ITaxnibal ; and 
OswKRO Fort and Yillage, see Sciiiba. 

Otero Ckeek, a small but good mill- 
stream of Otsego Covmty, rises in Exe- 
ter, and runs S. to the Susquehanna in 
the Town ofOtego. This is sometimes, 
though erroneously, written Atega. — 
Its course may be near 28 miles. 

Otisco Pond, or Lake, as it is called, 
is in the S W. part of Onondaga County, 
about four miles long and nearly one 
wide. Otisco, is from Osii'cA-nejr, signify- 
ing waters much dried away by evapo- 
ration. This lake or pond discharges 
Otisco Cueek, or Nine-mile Creek, 
nortliward to Onondaga Lake, after a 
courss of .'ibout 15 miles through Mar- 
cellus, Camillus and Sidina, aUbrding 
many mill-seats. E.W. 

OrsEftO Lake, in *hich the Susque- 
lianna takes its rise, is situated in the 
N. jiart of Olsego Cnimty, 66 miles W. 
of Albany. It is a beautii'ul collection 
of clear water abounding with fish, and 
is 9 miles long and 3-4 to 3 miles wide. 
At the outlet'is the flourishing Village 
of Olsego or Cooperstown, and a number 
of valu'ible mills. Salmon-trout are ta- 
ken in this Lake at all seasons, weigh- 
ting 1 , 3, 6, to 12 and 20 pounds, one of 
the hnest of pan-fish, and wliich also af- 
fords the best possible diversion for the 
angler. 

E.C.&G.P. 

OTsrLir Cnr.EK, rises in the S.W. part 
of Madison County, runs across the N. 
V/. corner of Chenango, the S. E. of 
Cortlandt, and a shoit distance into 
I'iroome Count}-, \v!\ere it enters the E. 
Bank of the Tioup;hnioga. Its whole 
course is about 43 miles. 

OrsauAOA, or OsauAGA Chtek, runs 
Ts. E. to Mohawk river, across the S.W 
part of Minden, to the B. part, where 
it forms several miles of the boundary 
toward Canajoharie. Its whole course 
may be 23 m'iles, and it is a good miil- 
stream. 

OwAsro Lake, in the central part of 
Cayuga County, is about eleven miles in 
length, and one to near two miles in 
width. Its outlet Owvsco Cheek, on 
which stands the Village of Auburn, 
discharges N. thi'ough AuroUus and 
Mentz to Seneca river, about 15 miles. 
OwARCo I:;4LET, is a small stream that 
runs into the head of Owasco Lake.— 
Oivasco, m the language of the Iroquois 
or Six Nations of Indians, is Bridge, 
and tiie lake took its name fiom an O- 



wasco or bridge of drift-wood, anciently 
formed across it near the N. end. — 
OwAsco Plats, see Semproxics. 

E.AV. 

OwEGo CnrrK, is a small stream that 
forms a part of the boundary between 
Broome and Tioga Counties ; — rising 
just on their northern borders, or with- 
in Cortlandt County, it runs S. into 
the Susquehanna near the Village of 
Owego, after a course of about 25 miles. 
It receives the Catetant near its mouth, 
and has several small branches. 

OwEBo ViLLAGi, scc TioGA. It has a 
Post-OfHce of the same name, and 42 or 
60 houses, stores, &c. ; 170 miles from 
Albany, handsomely seated on the N. 
shore of the Susquehanna. 

OrsTER-PoNDS Village, see Sovth^ 

OLD. 



P. 

PJLYTEB-POST, a large Post- 
Township in the S. E. corner of Steuben 
County, 20 miles on a right line S. E. of 
Bath Village, 234.miles'a little S. of W. 
from Albar.y ; bounded K. by Wayne 
and a small part of Bath, E. by Tioga 
County, S. by the State of Pennsylvania, 
W- by Addison, It comprises 6 Town- 
ships ; Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in the Jst and 
2d Ranges of Phcips and Gorham's pur- 
ch-ise ; and is 20 miles long N. and S., 
and 12 miles wide. In this Town are 
two other Posl-Offices than that ot" 
Painted-Post; — Lindsley Toivn P.O.y m 
the S.W. part ; and Campbell To-wn P.O., 
on the Conhocton in the N. W. part of 
the Town. This extent of area em- 
braces a diversity of soil and surface 
too variant for general description. It 
is well watered by streams for navig-a- 
tion and for mills. T!ie Tioga river 
holds a devious course through 3 of the 
Townships, receiving the Canisteo and 
Conhocton creeks from the W. and N.W. ; 
and there are many smaller streams. 
The 3 western Townships are u.s\ially 
known by the names of their respective 
Proprietors : Lindsley Town, on the S., 
is No. 1 in the second Range ; Erwin 
Town, in the centre, is No. 2 in the se- 
cond Range ; and Campbell Town, oh 
the N., is No. 3 in the second Range. — 
In Erwin T., is a bridge of 300 feet, 
across the mouth of Conhocton creek, 
and here stands the painted post that 
gave name to the whole of the Towit. 



tTAZETTEfiR OF NE^-YORK. 



zm 



ie* ?i&f — ■ ■ 



It is said to have been an Indian monu- 
ment of great antiquity, erected to per- 
petuate the death of some celebi-ated 
War Chief; and consists of a common 
post of oak, occasionally renewed, and 
painted in the Indian manner. The 
lands are of a good general character, 
with many tracts of extensive and rich 
alluvion. There are 6 or 7 saw-mills^ 4 
or 5 grain-mills, a carding-machine and 
fulling-mill. The school-houses may be 
6 in number, and these serve also as 
houses for occasional meetings for wor- 
ship. Along the rivers and principal 
creeks are roads, and some turnpikes 
also. The Great Bend and Bath turn- 
pike extends along the N. side of Tioga 
fiver, and opens an extensive intercoui'se 
with the surrounding Towns, and those 
on the Hudson, by cojmecting with 
other turnpikes. No. 2 in the second 
Bange contains the Village of Painted- 
Post, and has the Tioga running E. 
across the centi-e. The Village is on 
the N. side of the river, near the W. 
line, on the turnpike, 20 miles below 
Bath. The population of Painted-Post 
is 954, and there are 71 senatorial elec- 
tors. This Town has some fine groves 
of locust timber, very valuable in ahip- 
building, considerable qan titles of which 
descend the streams for Baltimore and 
a market. 

G.M.C.,&E.L. 
PATTEKSoy, a Post-Township of Dutch- 
ess County, 22 miles S. E- from Poiigh- 
keepsie, and 107 miles from Albany ; 
bounded N. by Pawling, E. by the State 
of Connecticut, S. by Southeast andCar- 
mel, W. by Frederick. It was formerly 
called Franklin, and received its pre- 
sent name in 14)08 ; its extent E. and W. 
is 9 miles, and it is 5 1-2 miles wide. 
On the E. and Wi are high hills, be- 
tween which is a valley of 3 miles wide, 
with a fine soil, and under good cultiva- 
tion. In this valley is the great swamp, 
extending into Pawling, and in which ri- 
ses Croton creek, flowing S. Near tlie 
centre of this Town is Pine island, con- 
taining 12 acres, in the middle of the 
swamp, and it exhibits a most singular 
appearance. Patterson Village, former- 
ly called Frederickbburgh, is pleasant- 
ly situated in the iV. part, in the fine 
valley above noticed. The rocks abound 
with seams, which are filled with cot- 
ton-stone, and ions of it might be col- 
lected with very little labor. There 
are 3 grain-mills, a fulling-inlll and 2 
carding-machmes ; and a distillery of 
grain and fruit spij-its. Tire iivsable 



property assessed in 1810, amounted to 
§190,579 ; when there were 2676 steep, 
1846 cattle, and 389 horses. There is 
a meeting-house for Quakers, one also 
for Presbyterians, and one or two for 
Baptists. The whole population IQ 
1810, 1446, with 110 electors. 

J.H.,&C.R. 

Pawling, a Post-ToAVnship of Dutch* 
ess County, 20 miles S. easterly from 
Fonghkeepsie, and 105 from Albany ; 
bounded N. by Dover, E. by the State of 
Connecticut, S. by PattersoBt W. by 
Beekman. It extends N. and S. eight 
miles, and has a medial length of nine 
miles, and comprises about 16 square 
miles of the Oblong. Like Dover and 
Franklin, it has high hills on the E. and 
W., with an extensive valley in the cen* 
tre, in which is the great swamp. Its 
waters divide here ; and the part run- 
ning S. forms Croton creek, while from* 
the N. issues Ten-mile creek. Fishkill 
creek rises in a pond in tlie S. W. cor* 
ner; Quaker*HiU, a name well estab- 
lished, is in the E. part, and is a lofty 
hill, arable, and under good cultivation^ 
though its soil is very stony, but exi 
cellent for grazing. It was first settled 
in 1740- West Mountain in the W., and 
also in the W. of Dover, is a sterile tract 
of little value, except for its timberi 
On Cluaker-Hill is a large Quaker meet- 
ing-house, in which is held a monthly- 
meeting. There are 5 grain-mills, 3 
fulling-mills, and a carding-machine s 
102 laoms in families, which produced 
20,840 j'ards of common cloth in 1810 : 
—2951 sheep, 2690 cattle, and 300 hor- 
ses. In 1810, the whole population \vas 
1756, with 138 senatorial electors ; tax- 
able property, 8296,122. Mica, or the 
talcky earth called ising-glass is found 
in great abundance. The name of this 
Town is that of the original Patentee.. 
N.r.,S.R.&C.R. 

Palatine, a Post-TownsJiip o! Mont» 
gomery County, 10 miles V*^* ol Johng' 
to-iun, and 51 from Albany ; bounded N". 
by Stratibrd, E. by Johnstown, Souther- 
ly by the xMohuwk river, W by Oppen- 
heini, which was erected from ilie W. 
part in 1808. It is well watered, and 
has abundance of fine mill-seats. Tlie 
largest stream is Garoga creek, which 
rises in Johnstown and runs S.W. to the 
Mohawk. The land is very excellent, 
and almost all inider high culiivation. 
This Town was first settled by some 
German families in 1724, ..nd though 
constantly under cultivation ever since 
that time, its choice Uu^s can hardly 
■35 ' " " 



afro 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



be said to have diminished any of their 
original Inxuriance of fertility. That 
part of this Town called Stone-Arabia, 
can hardly be surpassed in any age or 
country. The soil is a black grkty 
mold. It is 4 miles from the river, with 
a gentle acclivity toward the N., and 
i^ommands an extensive prospect to the 
S. and S. west. There are 2 churches, 
a Calvinist and a Dutch Reformed. — 
Palatine Village has about 35 dwellings, 
some stores, &.C., and a stone church. 
It is 55 miles from Albany, and Stone- 
Arabia 52. The principal part of the 
inhabitants ai-8 of Germaii origin, har- 
dy, industrious and frugal farmers. In 
consequence of the depredations of the 
Indians and tories, a small' palisade fort 
was erected last war ; and in 1780, 
when Sir John Johnson over-ran this 
country, it had a garrison of 200 men. 
Col. Browu fell here,, opposing this sa- 
vage White Sachem and his murder- 
ous horde. 

In 18K), the population of Palatine 
was 3111, and the whole number of tax- 
able inhabitants 54f ; the senatorial 
electors 311- The taxable property 
amounted in the same year to 615,103 
dollars, agreeable to the valuation of 
the Assessors. 

J.S.&J.M. 
Paris, a Post-Township of Oneida 
County, 8 or 9 milef S^ of Utica, and 
106 from Albany ; bounded N. by West 
moreland' and Whitestown, E. by Her- 
kimer County, S. by Bridge water and 
Sungeifield, W. by Augusta and Ver- 
non'. The area is about equal to ten 
miles square, and includes Brothertown, 
the residence of the Brotliertown In- 
dians. The surface is but gently une- 
ven, the soil is of a superior qt'.allty, 
and almost every acre is arable. The 
principal creeks are the Oviskany, and. 
the Sudahqueday or Suughtaughquoit, or 
Savghqueit, both very good sized mill- 
streams. This Town is settled almost 
wholly by emigrants from the Eastern 
States ; and the first settler, Moses 
Eoote,. Esq., is now living in Clinton 
settlement. This is the most populous 
Township in the County, and. next to 
Whitestown, the most wealthy. There 
lire 7 chuiciics erected, and several flou- 
visiiing Villages. Of the cluirches, 3 
a*e for Congregationalists, 2 Method- 
ists, 1 Episcopuiian, and 1 for Baptists, 
'i'htre are also, 34 school-houbcs and 
©omnion schools ; and 1 flourishing se- 
minary of learning, tne first erected in 
tUe Western District, known by the 



n&me oi Hamiltvn Oneida Academy. The 
corner stone of the Academy edifice^ 
was laid by Baron Steuben, a zealous 
and efficient patron of the institution^ 
There are also, 12 grain -mills, 24 saw- 
mills, 1 furnace, 2 forges, 8 fulling-mills, 
6 carding-machines, three trip-liammer 
works, 7 distilleries, 7 tanneries^ and 
one factory for weaving on a large scale. 
The roads are good, and conveniently 
disposed : and the Oxford and Senec* 
turnpikes both lead through this Town. 
There are 2 Post-Offices ; Paris, at Pa- 
ris Village ; and Clintoii, at the Village 
of Clinton^ iron-ore abounds^ but t£e 
quality of that now wrought is not good* 
The land is lield principally in fee, and 
the character of the inhabitants that of 
an industrious, agricultural, sober and 
moral people. Clinton Villace, in the 
northern pact of this Town, is pleasant- 
ly situated on Griskany creek, 9 miles 
from. Utica, has about 55 houses, an 
Academy, a meetinghouse, some m ills^ 
and a Post^^ffice of the same name ; 102 
miles from Albany. The Academy has 
3 stories,, and is 88 feet long, and 48 ia- 
width. Patis Village, or Paris Hill, 
2 miles further S., has 34 houses, two 
churches, and a P.Office. Sadahqueda^ 
or Savghquoit, is also a pleasant com- 
pact settlement, and has a Methodist 
meeting-house, and a Presbyterian now 
building.. Another little collection of 
25 houses, on the Oriskany, is called 

Hanover.- The population of Paris. 

5418; and there are 652 senatorial c- 
lectors. 

W.H.,&OJ[v.W. 
Paoitiia, a Post-Township of Onta* 
rio County, 15 miles N. of Canandaigtia,. 
and 223 from Albany ; bounded N. by 
Ontario and Williamson, E. by Lyons^ 
S. by Farmington, W. by Boyle. It 
comprises 2 Townships of Phelps and 
Gorham'a purchase, being No. 12 in thes 
2d and 3d Ranges. This Town has 
Mud creek running eastward through, 
its Avholc length, a little S. of the cen- 
tre. This creek affords fine advantages 
for. mills, and is of some little use for 
navigation. The soil is of a superior 
quality, and the settlements of a date 
to give much ot farming case and inde- 
pendence to the inhabitants. There is 
a large meeting of Quakers, and there 
is one Episcopal church, with a compe- 
tent number of common school-houses 
and schools. A road from Canandaigua 
vo Sodus bay, leads across the E. part, 
jikI there are many other roads in vari- 
1 ous directions. The Village of Palniy- 



GAZETTEE® OF NEW-YORK. 



^71 



Ta has a handsome collection of houses, 
and is a place of considerable business- 
— 'In 1810, the population amounted to 
2187, with 290 senatorial electors ; and 
the houshold manufactui-es produced 
33,719 yards of cloUi. The number of 
"families, 355. 

N.T.,J.C.S. 

Pakma, a Township of Genesee Coun- 
ty, erected in 1808, situated S5 miles 
N. easterly from Batavia,- bounded N. 
•by Lake Ontario, E. by Gates, S. by Ri- 
g-a, W. by Murray. Its length N. and 
S. is about 12 miles, and its width in 
the S. is 7 1-2 miles, at the N, end 
2 1-2. The settlements are compara- 
tively new, and the whole po|)ulation in 
1810, was 494, with 28 senatorial elec- 
tors. There are some small streams 
in the N. that descend the Northern 
terrace, and pass througli the Ridge 
Road to Lake Ontario, 2 of wiiich enter 
Braddock's bay, in the Town of Gates. 
The land is of various kinds and qual- 
ities, and much of it is called very good. 
It presents but little for detail, and has 
very few roads except that noticed a- 
bove. The N. part of this Town is 
about 10 miles W. of the mouth of Ge- 
nesee river. R.S.,N.T. 

Pelham, a small Township of West- 
chester County, on E. River, or Long- 
Island Sound, 18 miles from New-York, 
and 9 miles S. of White-Plains ; bound- 
ed E. by New-Rochelle, W. by East- 
Chester, S. by the Sound, and includ- 
ing several small but valuable islands. 
On the N. it terminates in a point- It 
is washed on the W. by East-Chester 
or Hutchinson's or Hutchins' creek, and 
like the other Towns of this County,- 
is confined to a very small area. The 
land is very stony, but productive, and 
the surface has little diversity. Ihere 
are some school-houses, but no house of 
worship. The whole number of inha- 
bitants in 1810, was 267, ef electors 19, 
taxable persons 42 ; and the taxable 
property assessed that year amounted 
to Sll4,322. The new turapike toward 
Boston from New-York, leads across 
this Town, and there are some hand- 
some country-seats along the Sound.— 
Pell's Point is at the S. end, and the 
-Islands are INIinneford's or Citij Island^ 
Kurt's Island, and His^h Island. Rod- 
man's Neck, and Pell's Point, are the 
same. J.W.,S.D. 

Pp,TERSBunr,H, a Township of Rensse- 
laer l^unty, 18 miles E. of Troy ,- boun- 
ded N. by Hoosac, E. by Pownal in Ver- 
mont, mA WaWmistown ia Massachu- 



setts ; S. by Berlin, W. by Grafton. It 
is 8 miles in extent N. and S., and about 
6 E. and W. Population in 1810, 2039, 
with 163 electors, and SlO taxable inha- 
bitants. Personal property assessed at 
21,864 dollars, and the aggregate of Teal 
and personal, 170,289 dollars. Along the 
E. border is a high range of hills called 
the bald mountains, and the ¥/. part has 
an extensive forest called the green- 
woods, which also extends tlu-ough Ste- 
phentown and Berlin. The centre is ant 
extensive valley of arable land, and has 
a good Soil for grain and grass. Little 
Hoosac creek runs N. through this val- 
ley, and supplies mill-seats^, and there 
are other small streams, besides Hoosac 
creek or river across the N. E. corner, 
where it receives Little Hoosac creek. 
The lands aa-e held by leases from the 
proprietor of R-^iisselaerwyck, in which 
it lies, and the annual rent is about 10 
bushels of wheat on 100 acres. There 
are 5 saw-mills, a fulling-mill, and a card- 
ing-machine, and 43 mechanics, employ- 
ed in 14 different trades. A small public 
library is lately established, and there 
are 5 school-houses. Near the centre of 
the Town is a small village called Rens^ 
selaer''s Mills, where there is a sraln- 
mill, saw-mill, carding-machine and a 
fulling-mill, and about 20 houses. Pet. 
tersburgh Hollow was settled at a pretty 
early period by some Dutch families, but 
the present population consists princi- 
pally of emigrants from Rhode-Island- 
J.B.,&B.S, 
Pertt, a Post-Township at the S. end 
of Clinton County, 130 miles N. of Alba- 
ny, according to the Post-Master's esti- 
mate, on the route by Caldwell, but S 
compute the distance &X 150 miles; 
bounded N. by Plattsburgh, E. by Lake 
Champlain or the State of Vermont, S. 
by Essex County, W. by Franklin Coun- 
ty. The river Au Sable forms about half 
of the southern boundary; the Saranac 
crosses the N. W. comer, and there are 
several branches of these, with smaller 
streams also that run into the Lake, 
which, altogether, supply a great abund- 
ance of mill-seats. Little Au Sable is 
wholly in this Town, and supplies many 
good mill-seats. The surface of the E. 
10 miles, is either level or but mode- 
rately uneven, and the soil of this part 
is good for farming ; W. of this is moun- 
tainous or hilly, and the land of little 
value. There are some small ponds. 
The land is principally held in fee sim- 
ple. There are in this Town, 3 or 4 
corn-mijls, 18 saw-mills, a fuUing-miU, 



2»'2 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



cardiriEj-macliine, 2 bloomeries for mak- 
ing bar-iron, a rope-walk, 4 tanner's 
works, and a distillery of grain and fruit 
spirits. The roads are pretty goT)d, and 
the inhabitants are remarked for habits 
of industry, temperance and economy. — 
It was first settled about 1789, princi- 
pally by farmers from the County of 
Duchess, A pretty large proportion of 
the inhabitants are Quakers, who have a 
meeting-house in Union Village, as have 
the M£tl)odists also in that of Hack- 
staff's mills ;— there are in all 22 school- 
houses. The trade of this Town is prin- 
cipally to Canada, the distance to Mon- 
treal being 70 miles, to Quebec 230, and 
St. John's, on the Sorel river, about 50 
miles, by water. It is supposed, by a 
well informed Correspondent, that 60,000 
dollars worth of produce was conveyed 
to Canada fi'om this Town in 1810. And 
my Correspondents state that various 
articles of foreign growth or manufac- 
ture, may be had here from Canada, 
about 30 to 50 per cent cheaper than by 
the way of Albany. There are 2 small 
villages ; — Union, with about 45 houses 
Und stores, and Hackstaff's Mills^ 35 
liouses and stores, 2 miles N. E. of the 
former. The Post-Office Is in Union 
"Village, which is pleasantly situated on 
a handsome plain, 3 miles N. of the high 
bridge across An Sable river. Tlie 
whole population of this Town in 1810, 
was 1933, when there were 162 electors. 
Valcour Island, in Lake Champlain, is 
attached to this Town. H.D.L. 

Pesfieih, a Township of Ontario 
Comity, 23 miles N. a little W. from 
Canandaigua, organized in 1811 from a 
part of Boyle ; bounded N. on Lake On- 
tario, E. by the Town of Ontario, S. by 
Boyle, W. by Boyle, or Teoronto or 
Gcriindegut bay. This tract has a pretty 
good soil, and it has several small 
streanns that empty into Lake Ontario 
and Teoronto bay, besides a larger one 
that enters the head of that bay, coming 
from Bloomfield across the S. E. angle 
of Boyle. Its population is not known, 
having been included in that of Boyle in 
the Census of 1810, which amounted to 
51860. The settlements are comparative- 
ly new, but as Penfield has abundance of 
bog iron-ore, and fine salt springs near 
the bay, its population will probably in- 
crease pretty rapidly. Considerfible 
salt is now made, and prepai-alions are 

making for extensive iron-works. 

•rhere is a store ; and some mills are 
.jerected. Its extent is about equal to 9 
niUes sfjuarp. A'>N,T.,4.C.S, 



PuAHSALiA, a Township of Chenango 
County, llmiles N. of AV. from JVot-u-icfi, 
and 114 \V. of Albany; bounded N. by 
German, E. by Plymouth, S. by Preston, 
W. by German. It is 6 miles square. 
No. 12 of the 20 Townships, as designat- 
ed on the Maps of the State. Its sur- 
face is elevated, moderately uneven, and 
well watered by small springs and 
brooks. There are some pretty good 
mill-streams, the sources of Canasawacta 
of Chenango, and of one or two others 
that run W. to Otselick creek of the Ti- 
oughnioga. There are 2 or 3 grain - 
mills, 3 saw-mills, a distillery, and 50 
looms in families. The land is held in 
fee. The Port-Watson and Salt Spring 
turnpikes intersect each other near the 
centre of this Town, which is 122 miles 
W. by N. from Catskill, and 45 S. S. W, 
from Utica. A mhieral spring is spoken 
of here, and as considerably used, but I 
have no knowledge of its qualities. — 
This Town was first settled in 1798 > 
and in 1810, its population was 480, with 
42 electors, and 57,569 dollars of taxa- 
ble property. 

N.W.,E.W.,&J.N. 

Phelps, a Township of Ontario Coun- 
ty, 12 miles Easterly from Canandaig^ia, 
5 Northerly from Geneva, and 197 from 
Albany ; bounded N. by Lyons, E. by Se- 
neca County, S. by the Town of Seneca, 
W. by a part of Gorliam and by Farming- 
ton. Its extent N. and S. 10 miles, E. 
and W. 8 miles ; comprising Township 
No. 11, in the First Range, and the N. 
half of No. 10 also, witli the gore of land 
E. of these to the pre-emption line.— 
And it is almost needless to observe 
that it is named in honor of Oliver 
Phelps, an original purchaser of the right 
of Massachusetts to this extensive coun- 
try, of which he was also a distinguish- 
ed patron. This Town is called one of 
the best in Ontario County, and it is 
thickly settled with wealthy and indus- 
trious farmers. The soil is uniformly 
rich and fertile, and the surface is agree- 
ably undulated, but without hills or 
moiintains. Its agriculture is excelled, 
by no Town in this country. Canandai- 
gua creek, the outlet of Canandaigua 
lake, winds across it eastwat»d, and sup- 
plies abundant conveniences for water- 
works, with fine alluvial lands. In 1810, 
the whole number of families was 57(J, 
of senatorial electors, 241 } and its po- 
pulation, 3408. Tliere are 135 looms ia 
families, and thehoushold manufactures, 
1 vf'itii only tiie aid of the cardingmai 



GAZETTEER OF IVEAV-YORK. 



273 



chines, produced 38,119 yards of cloth 
in 1810. 

N.T.,J.C.S.&.S.B. 

PaiLifs, or PmtiPSTowx, a larj^e and 
mountainous Post-Township in the S. W. 
corner of Dutchess County, opposite 
West-Point, so well known in the annals 
of the American Revolution. It is 12 
miles long- on Hudson river, and about 
8 miles wide ; bounded N. by Fishkill, 
E. by Frederick and Carmel, by West- 
chester Co. on the S., and the Hudson on 
the \y. This Town embosoms some of 
the most rugged hills of the Highlands, 
the most noted of which are the Sugar- 
loaf, Break -neck, on which is Anthony's 
Nose, and Bull-hill. The S. E. part of 
Philips is watered by some main branch- 
es of Peekskill creek, along whicli are 
some rich and pretty extensive inter- 
vales, well cultivated. There are some 
small ponds, which afford excellent pan- 
fish, and the whole tract is well watered 
by springs and rivulets. At I-'leasani- 
yalley, a little S. of opposite West- 
Point, is an Episcopal Church, the only 
one in this Town. Tliere are 10 grain- 
mills, several saw-mills, and fulling- 
mills, and 3 forges for making bar-iron. 
Iron-ore abounds, and large quantities 
are now transported annually to other 
iron-works than those of the Town. It 
is a healthy romantic country, enjoying 
great advantages for water-machinery. 
The whole population in 1810, was 3129, 
with 165 electors ; and the taxable pro- 
gerty was valued at 312,048 dollars. 

J.M. 

PiTTsTowjf, a Post-Township in the N. 
part of Rensselaer County, bounded 
Northerly by Schaghticoke and Cam- 
bridge, in Washington Co., E, by Hoo- 
Sac, S. by Grafton and Brunswick, W. by 
Schaghticoke. Its area is about 35,500 
acres, and it is one of the original Towns, 
erected in 1788, then within the County 
of Albanj^ The first settlements com- 
menced about 1750. The surface is 
somewhat uneven, though arable with 
but few exceptions, and the soil good. 
The timber was oak, maple, beech, ash, 
ehesnut, white pine, &.c. The land in 
general, held in fee, though there are a 
few durable lease titles, and tlie inhabit- 
ants manufacture a large proportion (say 
4ths) of their clothing. The roads are 
good. Pittstown has 2 Post-Offices ; 
Pittstown in the Southern part, and 
Tomhanoc on the Northern turnpike, 10 
miles from Lansingburgh. The princi- 
VdX articles for market, jire w^cat, pork, 



beef, and lumber of various kinds. There 
are 8 grist-mills, 21 saw-mills, 4 carding- 
machines, 4 fulling-mills, and 1 spinning- 
machine for wool, with every advantage 
for water-machinery. The merino is here 
introduced, and a spirit of improvement 
prevails among the farmers. There are 
one Dutch Reformed, one Quaker, one 
Baptist, and one Methodist meeting- 
houses, and 20 school-houses. The lit- 
tle village called Pittstown, has about; 
20 houses and one church ; that of To;«- 
hanoc, 25; both pleasantly situated in 
fertile vales of considerable extent. The 
whole population in 1810, was 3692, in- 
cluding 85 slaves, and there were also 
367 senatorial electors. The taxable 
property, as valued by the Assessors, 
amounted to 616,365 dollars. S.N. 

PiTTsriELD, a Township of Otsego 
County, 15 miles S, of West from Coop- 
erstoivn, 81 W. from Albany; bounded 
N. by Edmeston, E. by New-Lisbon, S. 
by Butternuts, W. by Chenango County 
or Unadilla river. The surface is une- 
ven, but the hills are arable, and the val- 
lies very rich- It is well watered by 
small springs and brooks ; and, being 
washed on the W. by the Unadilla, en- 
joys good advantages. There are 2 grain- 
mills, 2 saw-mills, an oil-mill, and a full- 
ing-mill. A turnpike from Otsego, e.\.i 
tends W. across the N. part, where it 
also receives one from Cortlandt County. 
In 1810, the whole population was 745, 
with 53 electors, t58 taxable inhabit- 
ants, and 84,645 dollars of taxable pro- 
perty. Its grazing lands excel in rich- 
ness, and the dairy is very fine. 

J.P.&E.P. 

PiNCKNET, a newly settled Township 
in the Black river country, near the N, 
W. corner of Lewis County, 6 1-2 miles 
in length and 6 in breadth ; bounded E, 
by Harrisburgh, N. by Denmark, Cham- 
pion and Rutland; W. by Rodman in Jef- 
ferson Co., S. by a part of Lorraine, and 
a tract of unsettled land called Consta- 
ble's purchase. It was first settled in 
the spring of 1805, and contained in 
1810, about 70 families, and is fast set- 
tling. The soil is either a moist loam or 
sand, or a mixture of sand and loam, and 
well watered ; producing good ci-ops of 
wheat, rye, oats, barley, gi-ass, &c., with 
corn and pease. The timber is beech, 
maple, elm, bass-wood, abundance of 
black and white ash, and some hem., 
lock and butternut or white walnut.— 
The sui'face is rather level, Jiaving 
no raoiintains or oonsiti^rablQ hills.*-. 



274 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



population in 1810, 439, including 57 
electors. 

J. A. 
PtATTEKitr, a Township In the fe. E. 
of Ulster Cotintv, 22 miles b. oi Kingston^ 
bounded N. by New-Pal tz, E. by Marl- 
borough in Orange County, VV. byShuw^ 
sngunk. Its area is about 30 square 
miles. The roads are very numerous, 
and pretty good. It is a good Township 
of farming land, and has little to invite 
minute detail. The inhabitants are prin- 
cipally farmers, of plain economical ha- 
bits, and much of their clothing is the 
product of the houshold wheel and loom. 
There are 109 looms in families, which 
annually make about 25,000 yards of 
cloth for common clothing. Its agricul- 
ture is rapidly improving, though still 
inferior to that of the farming Towns of 
Dutchess County, on the opposite side 
«f the river. In 1810, the whole popu- 
lation was 1936, with 1S5 senatorial 

■electors. 

A.,N.T.,C.T. 

PtAiNFixxD, a Post-Township at the 
N. W. extremity of Otsego County, 15 
miles N. W. of Cooperstown, and 81 fiom 
Albany ; bounded N. by the County line, 
and by the Town of Richfield, E. by Ex- 
eter, S. by Edmeston, W. by Madison 
County. It is washed on the W. by Una- 
dilla creek or river of the Susquehanna, 
within a few miles of its head, and has 
some small streams that run into this. 
The ^. part is considerably hilly, but 
the lands are rich in the vallies, and the 
N. VV. part is level and rich. There are 
4 or 5 grain and saw-mills, an oil-mill, 
and some other similar uorks. It has ■■<; 
turnpikes leading E. and W. across tlie 
N. end, besides other common roads. 
The pastures of this country are uncom- 
jnonly excellent, and its dairy has a 
high reputation. The situation is ele- 
vated, on the head lands that separate 
^e waters of the Mohawk from those 
of the Susquehanna. In 1810, the whole 
jjopulatiou was -■ii'-i'^, with 168 senatorial 
electors, 240 taxable inhabitants, and 
• 123,879 dollars of taxable property. 

J.P.,&.E.P. 
PtATTSBrRGH, a Post- Township, the 
C^ipital of Clinton County, 160 miles N. 
•f Albany ; bounded N. by C liazy and 
3Ioocrs, E. by Lake Champlain or the 
State of Vermont, S. by Peru, W. by 
J'ranklin County. It is well watered by 
Saranac river which runs Eastward to 
Lake Champlain, and by several smal> 
branches that supply abundance of ni;ll- 
seats. The E. cud of this To.vn, along 



the lake, is very level, and the W. part 
either hilly or mountainous. The land is 
under pretty good cultivation, and it is 
by far the most populous Town in the 
County. In 1810, tlve whole population 
was 3112, when there were 224 electors. 
For some remarks on the trade, 8ic., sec 
Pehu, minutely described. The inhab- 
itants are principally farmers, of domes* 
tic and peaceful habits. Their houshold 
manufactures supply the common and 
much of the fine clothing. A road thro* 
Plattsburgh by Elizabethtown and Es- 
sex County, and Caldwell of Washington 
County, opens a nearer way of travel t« 
Canada than that on the E side of Lake 
Champlain, by many miles. And this 
will sooo be the principal route from 
Albany. From Plattsburgh there is al- 
so a road that curves N. W. across the 
N. end of Franklin to St. Lawrence, 
Lewis and Jefferson Counties. Cumber- 
land Head, is a peninsula that forms 
Cumberland bay of Lake Champlain, in- 
to which the Saranac empties at the Vil- 
lage of Plattsburgh. From this Village, 
the land rises gently to the W., and pre^ 
sents an elegant display of rural scenery. 
The soil of the level part is a strong pro- 
ductive loam, about equally divided into 
arable and grass lands. Plattsburgh 
Village, is handsomely laid out, at th^ 
mouth of Saranac river, and contains 
about 70 houses and stores, a Presbyte- 
rian church, and several mills, besides 
the court-house and prison for the Coun- 
ty. It is a place of very considerable bu- 
siness. The United States' barracks are 
4 miles above the village, on the Sara- 
nac. They were erected in 1812. Platts.- 
burgh is situated in 44'' 42' N. Lat., and 
35' E. longitude from New-York; dis- 
tant from that city 330 miles on the pre- 
sent travelling route ; 43 miles from St. 
John's in Lower Canada, (by water,) 65 
fiom Montreal, and 223 from Quebec. 
It is also 112 miles N. of -Whitehall, at 
the head of Lake Champlain. 

A.P.L.,N.T. 
Pltmoutii, a Post-Township of Che- 
nango County, 7 miles N. W. of J\'orivich, 
and 107 W. of Albany ; bounded N. by 
Smyrna, E. by Norwich, S. by Preston, 
W by Pliarsalia. It is 6 miles square, 
being Township No. 11 of the 20 Town- 
ships, as designated on the Maps of the 
'urveyor-General, and was organized in 
1807. The surtace is uneven, and some 
part hilly, but there are good propor- 
tions of arable, meadow, and grazinjf 
lands, and of a very good quality. About 
two tidrds of the whole is in fiu-UM, and 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



273 



H is well watered by springs, brooks and 
mill-streams. The principal stream is 
Canasawacta creek, which runs S. E. te 
the Chenango, about half a mile below 
Norwich Villajje. This is a gtiod stream 
for mills, and some of its branches af- 
ford mill-seats also, as doesCole'^s brook 
in the E. part. Tb€ principal ^mber is 
maple, beech, elm, basswood, vvhite-iish 
and black-ch«rry. There Js a small vil- 
lage near the centre of this Town, called 
Fraiicitville, pleasantly situated, and in- 
treasing in population. There are 8 
school-houses, and schools are pretty li- 
berally supported. In I81O, the whole 
population was 12S5, with 114 electors, 
and 82,177 dollars of taxable property. 
D.P.,&JN. 
PoMFHET, a large Post-Township of 
Chatauqua County, erected March II, 
1808. It comprises Townships Nos- I to 
6 inclusive of Ranges 10 and II ; and Sand 
6 of the I2th Range. Its length N. and 
S., is about 36 miles,, and it is from 12 
to 18 miles wide ; bounded N. by Cata- 
raugus creek, or the County of Niagara, 
E. by Cataraugus Co., S. by Pennsylva- 
nia, W. by the Town of Chatauqua, and 
N. AV. by Lake Erie. This country was 
first settled in 1805, and is fast peopling 
by emigrants from the Eastern Slates. — 
There are now about 300 inhabitants, 
and many families are expected during 
tlie summer of 1810. The soil is good, 
with but little waste land ; no mountains 
or considerable hills. Oak, chesnut and 
walnut, form the greatest proportion of 
the forest trees- The face of the coun- 
try is agreeably undulated with gentle 
swells and fertile vallies, and very well 
watered with i>mall streams, and with 
springs and brooks. Canadaway creek, 
a sizable mill-stream, traverses 10 or 12 
miles, affording many mill-seats, and en- 
ters L. Erie 12 miles S. Wc sterly of Gala- 
rauguB creek. About 6 miles from the 
mouth of the Canadaway, is a beautiful 
cascade of the whole stream, 16 feet high. 
Here is one saw-mill. And 2 mi'es below, 
at the crossing of the State road, is the 
Village of 'Janadawat, with a Post Ot- 
fice, a grist and saw -mill, several me- 
chanics' shops, &c. The Village plat is 
one mile on each side of the creek. A 
aulpliur spring, emitting hydrogene gas, 
i» supposed to have been fomid in the 
water of this creek, near its mouth. — 
Lake Cosdauga heads in this Town, as 
do also Silver and \Valnut creeks. The 
fitrmers generally manufacture the mosv 
of their wearing apparel ; and grai;i and 
grass do extremely well. There {ire 2 



meeting-houses and settled ministers i 

1 Baptist, and 1 Congregationalist, and 
a society of Methodists ; 4 common 
schools. There are 2 Post-Offices ,• Pem^ 
fret, and Canadaiuay ,- the latter 440 
miles from Washington, on the post- ■ 
route ; and 356 from Albany, a little S. 
of W. J.S.B. 

PoMPET, a Post-Township of Onondaga 
County, 11 miles S. E. of Onondaga, and 
146 miles N. of W. from Albany ; bound- 
ed N. by Manlius, E. by Madison Coun- 
ty, S. by Fabius,W. by Otisco and Onon- 
daga, being 10 miles square — Pompey 
of the Military tract. Its waters are 
Butternut creek in the W. part, and the 

2 branches of lime stone creek on tlieE., 
all of which run N. through Manlius 
to Chitteningo creek. They are fines 
mill-streams, and afford a jfood supply 
of sites for mills of every description.— 
The surface, soil, timber, and natural 
and agricultural products are so similar 
to those of the adjacent Towns, that se- 
parate detail is unnecessary. Some 
ridges of arable and elevated hills give 
a pleasing and useful diversity to its 
surface f and, like Onondaga, it has its 
Hollows and hills. There is 1 turnpike 
leading N. and S., besides several othep 
roads, and a tunipike from Cazenovia 

to Manlius, across the N. E. corner - 

Pompey Hill, a handsome, elevated and. 
healthy situation, has an academy, and 
40 houses. This spot commands a fine 
view of Onondaga and Oneida Lakes and 
the surrounding country. It is 146 miles 
from Albany. Tlie East JIollow is a rich- 
farming settlement, 6 miles E. of the 
academy. The inhabitants are princi- 
pally farmers, and possess a large share 
of wealth. In 1810, the population was 
5669, and there were 484 senatorial 
electors. In this Town are found many 
indications of settlements by civilized' 
people at some former period, as well as- 
many vestiges of ancient Indigenal 
works of considerable magnitude. Pie- 
ces of gun-barrels, gun-locks, some 
leaden-balls, axes, knives, brass-kettles,, 
iron-chains, and a part of a church-bell 
with the tongue entire, have been dug 
up from some feet below tlie surface of 
the ground. The present settlements 
commenced in 1788, and no account or 
tradition is preserved of the time when 
the above articles could have been depo- 
sited here, or of the people by whom 
they were used. But the decay oi' iron 
by rust, clearly indicates a period mush 
less remote than many have fondly iiiv- 
agiaed. N.T.,J.O.Vv^ 



^n 



GAZETTEER OF NEM -YORK. 



Potsdam, a floui'ishing Post-Township 
of i^. Lawrence County, one tier of Towns 
back from St. Lawrence river, N. Lat. 
44" 40', 1" W.Long-, from New-York; 
bounded Northerly by Madrid, Easterly 
by Stockholm, Southerly by Hopkinton, 
Westerly by Canton ; 150 miles N. N. W. 
from Albany, 90 W of Plattsburgh, and 
25 E. of Osvegatchic. It is 10 miles 
square, first settled in 1804, and now 
contains, 1810, 928 inhabitants. The 
face of the land is smooth, but inter- 
spersed with gentle swells and vales. — 
The soil a sandy loam, and very produc- 
tive. The Racket river, here about 250 
yards wide, passes thro' this Town, and 
forms a great variety of beautiful situa- 
tions. The principal settlement or vil- 
lage, is on the Racket, where thei-e is a 
beautiful fall and large accommodations 
for uU kinds of water-machinery. The 
village contains about 15 dwellings, a 
grisi-tnill and saw-mill, a fulling-mill, 
carding-machine, and several mechanics' 
shops, and a Post-Office, on tlie road 
from Black river to Lake Champlain. — 
la the northern pai L of Potsdam, is a 
compact settlement of about 15 families, 
who call themselves Moravians. This 
Town was first erected, Feb. 21, 1806, 
tVom a pai't of Madrid, retaining the 
fioundaries of Potsdam Township, as de- 
signated on De Wilt's Maps. There are 
120 senatorial electors. In all there are 
T saw-mills, 1 or 2 grain-mills, and a 
distillery of grain spirits, a carding-ma- 
«hine, ciothiery, and a school-house. 

B.R.,&S.R. 

PouNDKiPOE, a Township of West- 
Chester County, 5 miles S. E. of Jiedford, 
t5 miles in a right line, E. of the Hud- 
son, and about 12 N. of the Sound in 
Connecticut ; bounded N. by S. Salem, 
E. by S. Salem, S. E. by the State of Con- 
Tiecticut, W. by Bedford and Nortli Cas- 
tle. Melianiis creek forms the W. boun- 
dary, and there is another small stream 
that also runs S. to the Sound across the 
S. W. angle of Connecticut; in the N. 
;ire some branches of Croton creek. — 
These streams supply mill-seals. Tlie 
land ii uneven, and much of it stony, but 
having a due admixtui'e of arable with 
pasture and meadow lands, forms a to- 
lerably productive agricultural Town- 
.«hip. See Bedford for a detailed view, 
^hich princj[)aUy applies also to the hoil, 
:!-griculture, &.C., of tlii.s 'lown. In 1810, 
■.lie taxable property, as valued by tiie 
^Assessors, amounted to 124,925 doilai's ; 
Viun \iwte were 13-i9 persons in all, 



with 124 electors, and 233 taxable inha* 
bitants. S.D. 

PouGHKEKPSiE^ a PoSl-ToWHship, the 
Capital of Dutchess County, 85 miles 
S. of Albany, and 75 N. of New-York ; 
bounded N. by Clinton, E. by Wappin- 
ger's creek, or the Township of Fishkill, 
Southerly by the same, W. by the Hud- 
son or the County of Ulster. It was set- 
tled at an early period, and is said to 
have received its name from Apokeep- 
sing, an Indian word signifying safe har- 
bor. Its extent N. and S. is 10 miles* 
and has a medial width of about 3 1-2 
miles. Along the rivei' the surface is 
broken by some hills and by deep gullie« 
and water-courses, but the general sur-* 
face is but moderately uneven. The soil 
is principally sandy, with tracts of clay 
and loam ; and previous to the use of 
gypsum as a manure, much of it was ex- 
hausted with a long annual repetition of 
bad tillage, and an unskilful succession 
of crops. Fall creek, a small but valua- 
ble mill-stream from Clinton, courses 
along the N. part of the Village, and 
descends to the Hudson over numerous 
cataracts that supply abundance of mill- 
seats. There is also a small stream in 
the S, and these with Wappinger's 
creek, along the E. lime, afford a great* 
profusion of sites for water-works, and 
render Poughkeepsie an eligible site for 
manufactures of various kinds, which 
also requires the mixed population of a 
populous Town. There are 5 Landings 
with convenient store-houses, wharves, 
&c., and the trade is veiy extensive. 
In this Town are 14 grain-mills, 3 card- 
ing-machines, a fulling-mill, woollen fac- 
tory, an oil-mill, an extensive brewery 
and distillery. There are 50 looms ift 
families, wliich produce 20,000 yards 
yearly of cloth for common clothing j 
6812 sheep, 3000 cattle, and 1000 horses i 
and the taxable property assessed iu 
I8I0 was valued at S779,250. Its whole 
population in 1810, 4670, with 441 elect- 
ors. Poughkeepsie was first settled a- 
bout 1735, by some Dutch families, and 
several of their descendants are still iii 
possession of the family inheritance.— 
The Barneu-vt lime has a high reputa- 
tion, and the kilns are in the S. W. of 
this Town. At the moutli of Wappin- 
ger's creek, on the line of this Towo 
and Fishkill, is a handsome draw-bridge, 
a Landing, a small Village, and a JHost^ 
Off.ce, called lyapfiinger^s creek P.O. 

ijie Village or Pouchkkep.sie, is seat- 
ed on a plain nearly one mile E. of the 
Hudson, on the post-road between Alba- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



277 



iiy and New-York, and was incorporated 
in I80I. The principal street extends 
E. and W. in a rig'ht line, from tlie cen- 
tre of which is a handsome street lead- 
ing S. Here are 422 inhabited dwell- 
ings,' 49 stores, shops, &c., 5 chutches 
or houses of worship, an Academy, the 
County buildings, and some manufacto- 
tories. Many of the old houses are of 
stone, the late erections are principally 
of wood or brick. The court-house and 
jail, in one building, was erected in 1809, 
and is an elegant substantial edifice of 
stone. The hotel is elegant and spa- 
cious. In 1810, the whole population of 
this Village was 2981; and in iai2, it 
had 471 houses and stores, and 7 or 8 
public buildings. There are also two 
printing-offices, which issue weekly pa- 
pers. Tliere are 5 serpentine roads to 
the Landings, and turnpikes extend from 
the Village eastward in various direc- 
tions. The trade at the Landings em- 
ploys 8 large sloops or packets which 
sail weekly to New- York. In the early 
periods of our Legislative history, Pougii- 
teepsie was frequently the place of Le- 
jCislative deliberations j and the Conven- 
tion that met to deliberate on the Fede- 
ral Constitution, and voted for its adop- 
tion, met in this place in 1788. 

L.M.K.,D B.,C.K.,&S.R. 
Preble, a Post-Township in the N. 
W. corner of Cortlandt County, 8 miles 
N. of Homer, or 12 from the site of the 
County buildings, 25 miles S. of Salina, 
and 150 W. from Albany ; bounded N. 
by Spaftbrd, E. by Truxton, S. by Homer, 
W. by Cayuga County. It comprises 
the S. half of the Military Township of 
Tully, and islO miks E.aiid W., by 5 mile<: 
N. and S. The waters are small streams 
of the Tioughnioga of Chenango of the 
Susquehanna, and a very small inlet to 
Skeneateles lake, 2 miles of the S. end 
of which is in this Town. The surface 
is considerably hilly, the hills ranging 
N. and S. ; but there are fine and exten- 
sive vallies, the soil a yellowish gravelly 
loam, warm and productive, with a \nix- 
ture of slate and limestone. The hills 
are good for pasture, and the soil weli 
adapted for grass. It was first settled 
in 1800, by Yankees, Dutch and German 
farmers, who are represented l)v Corres- 
pondents as industrious, thriving hus- 
bandmen. There is a small libiary ; a 
society of Baptists, and one of Congre- 
gationalists, who hold meetings for uor- 
ship m the school-houses, oi which there 
are 4, one a framed building, tjie other 
of logs. There is a I'Oftd from Homer to 



Salina, another to Skeneateles, and one 
that crosses E. and W., from Otsego to 
Aurora. There are several small ponds ; 
and a spring, strongly impregnated with 
sulphur, attracts some notice. The tim- 
ber is maple, beech, bass, elm, with 
some hemlock and pine in a few places ; 
and on the highest ridges are groves of 
chesnut, oak and walnut. The land is 
held by right of soil. There are 2 grain-' 
mills, 2 saw-mills, a carding-machine 
and a trip-hammer. The population in 
1810, 1080, and 94 senatorial electors i 
the taxable property, g54,710. 

R.D.T.,&J.B.P. 
PniNCETowN, a Township of Sche- 
nectady County, 7 miles W. o^ Schenecta' 
(ly, and 22 N. W. of Albany ; bounded N* 
by Montgomery County, E. by Schenec- 
tady, S. by Albany County, W. by Du- 
ane^burgh. Its e.xtent N. and S. is near 
10 miles, with 2 to 6 in width. Nor* 
man's kill, which rises iji Duanesburgh, 
runs several miles across the S. end o£ 
this Town ; and there are some small 
streamlets in the N. that run into the 
Mohawk. The lands arc of various qua- 
lities, and the surface is very much di- 
versified, but it offers little to demand 
minute detail. The whole population 
in 1810, was 826, with 98 senatorial elec- 
tors. Situated between Duanesburgh 
and Schenectady, its soil, surface and 
products are the same as theirs ; and 
there is nothing to demand detail. 
N.T.,J.T. 
Provide :!fCE, a Township on the W, 
line of Saratoga County, 14 miles N. W. 
from Saratoga C H., 34 1-2 from Alba- 
ny, and 20 N. of Schenectady ; bounded 
N. by Edinburgh, E. by Greenfield, S. 
by Galway, W. by Montgomery County. 
It is about 7 miles square, and its popu- 
lation in 1810, was 1694, with 136 elect- 
ors. There are 6 grain-mills, 12 saw- 
mills, 3 fulling-mills, a carding-machine, 
trip-hammer, and a bark-mill : 1 Quaker 
meeling-huuse, and 1 also for Baptists ; 
and 5 school-houses, and there is also a 
small ibrary. The N. eastern partis 
In-oken by high hdls, and the general 
surface is uneven. There are some 
marshes, and 1 small pond, l he waters 
supply abundance of mill-se:its ; and 
there are 3 sutall creeks that run W.* 
uniting near the W. line, and pass to the 
Sacandaga at Sir William Johnson's 
old Fish-House, in the Town of North- 
ampton. The Sacjuidaga crosses the N. 
\V. coiMier, for a short distance, and pass- 
es northerly into Edinburgh. The landi? 
are held by diftcrent tenures ; some in 
36 



278 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



fee, and some by leases on various condi- 
tions ; and the inhabitants, principally 
farmers, manufacture the most of their 
clothing' in the houshold way. The 
roads are numerous and pretty good, and 
the country is called very healthy. Its 
pastures are very fine, and the lands are, 
in general, better adapted for grass 
than grain. 

S.9.B. 
Preston, a Township of Chenango 
County, 5 miles W. of J\'or7vich, 50 miles 
S. E. from the village of Salina, 17 S. W. 
of Sherburne, and 115 W. of Albany; 
bounded S. by Oxford, W. by German, 
]S. by Pharsalia and Plymouth, E, by 
Jforwich. Preston contains the IStli 
and 14th squares of what are called the 
20 Townships, Governor's Purchase, 
except 4 tier of lots from the E. end an- 
nexed to Norwich, and contained 158 
taxable inhabitants in 1809. It is about 
9 miles in length E. and W., by 6 N. 
and S. The most of the population is 
on the 14th square, as it contains 115 of 
the taxable inhabitants. There are no 
public buildings, excepting three small 
school-houses. The soil is of a good 
quality, covered with a heavy growth of 
maple, beech, basswood, elm, clierry, 
&c., is well watered by springs and ri- 
vulets, and produces good crops of wheat, 
rye, oats, grass, &.c. The only streams 
are some inconsiderable branches of 
Cliennngo rivei*. Population, in 1810, 
1008, and 136 senatorial electors } — tax- 
able property §100,221. 

A.K. 
PuiTEKET, a Post-To\vnship on the N. 
line of Steuben County, 11 miles N. of 
Jiath Village ; and 232 miles W. from 
Albany; bounded N. by Ontario County, 
E. by Crooked lake or the Township of 
Wayne ; S. by Bath, and W. by Bath.— 
lis area is about 82 square miles. Five 
mile creek, a good mill-stream of the 
Conliocton, runs centrally from theN. E. 
part, where it rises, to the S. W. corner ; 
and there are some small mill-streams 
that fall into Crooked Lake. The land 
is of an excellent quality, possessed in 
fee by the inhabitants, and the improve- 
ments progress as rapidly as the popu- 
lation increases. The timber consists 
of beech, maple and other deciduous 
forest trees, of a large growth. The set- 
tlements are of very recent date, none 
being prior to 1807. The taxable iMh:i- 
bitants amount to 200, and the whole po- 
pulation to 1038. There are 97 senato- 
rial electors. The settlements are dis- 
linguislicd by the names oi'Eust and Jt'ese 



Pulteney, in which are 2 Congregations 
of Presbyterians with settled ministers, 
and in 1 of which is a meeting-house.— 
The inhabitants are from the Eastern 
States, and their social regulations are 
in the Yankee chai-acter : Nor is their 
agriculture, and domestic economy, less 
characteristic. The centre of this Town 
is 23 miles on a right line, S. of Canan- 
daigua. 

D.C. 
Putnam, a Township in the N. E. ex- 
tremity of Washington County, 28 miles 
N. of Sandy Hill; bounded N. by Esses 
County, E. by Lake Champlain or the 
State of Vermont, and by S. bay, S. by 
Fort Anne, W. by Lake George. It is 
20 miles in length N. and S., and has a 
medial width of 3 1-2 miles. Compris- 
ing the tongue or narrow ridge of land 
between the two lakes, its surface is 
necessarily hilly or mountainous, and 
the soil of little value. Its population 
in 1810, was 499, when there were 1? 
electors. The N. end of this Town ap- 
proaches Ticonderoga within 4 miles, 
and it has been the scene of some fight- 
ing. Among the mountains are some 
natural ice-houses, and there is one in 
the S. E. corner, near the head of S. bay, 
in which ice is to be found at all times 
of the year. Putnam was erected in 
1806, and named in honor of the late 
General Putnam, who saw much of hard 
service in this vicinity. 

E.W. 

PATCHOGUE, P.O. see BUOOKHAVF.N. 

Peekskill VitiAGE, in Cortlandt, ViT. 
Chester Co., has a Post-Office of the 
same name, a printing-office, and consi- 
derable trade. 

PjiNNXANK, see Beston", 

PETERitono', see Smithfieid. 

Pecojuc Bat, see Kivehhead. 

Placid Lake, see Keene. 

Pleasant Vailet, a flourishing Post- 
Village in the S. part of Clinton, Dutch- 
ess County, 7 miles E. of Pouffhkeepsie. 
It stands on Wappinger's creek, at the 
crossing of the Dutchess turnpike, and 
contains about 60 houses and a building 
of 80 feet by 34, 4 stories high, for a fac- 
tory; besiiles anotI)er building of 102 
feet by 26, which contains the several 
mechanics' shops connected with the 
establishment, and 4 dwellings for work- 
men. The factory will contain 250O 
spindles. This establishment is owned 
by an incorporated company, and has 
been organized and the works erected 
since 1809. The whole works employ 
about 100 persons, and the operations 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



2119 



are all performed with excellent econo 
my- Previous to 1809, when the Plea- 
sant Valley manufacturing company com- 
menced its operations here, this Village 
consisted only of 8 or 10 houses, and 
was almost unknown. There are now, 
besides the buildings enumerated a- 
Love, a grain and saw-mill, carding-ma- 
chine, fulling-mill and dressing shop, 
besides sliops for 20 mechanics of 9 dif- 
ferent trades. Here are also 3 stores, 
2 taverns, a Quaker and a Presbyterian 
meeting-house, and 2 schools, one of 
vhich is the property of, and under the 
direction of the society of Quakers or 
Friends. With this rapid growth and 
increase of population, lands in the vi- 
cinity of the Village have experienced a 
proportionate rise in value. The Post- 
Office in this Village, was established 
in February, 1813. 

R.A.,&GG. 

PtKASAST Vaukt, sea also Eiizabeth- 

Plumb IstA?rD,and Gut, see Soutuold. 

PoESTEN KiLt, a good mill-stream 
that enters the E. bank of the Hudson a 
little S. of the Village of Troy. Near 
its mouth are high falls, and a succes- 
sion of rapids that afford abundance of 
sites for water-works, where are now in 
operation several extensive works of va- 
rious kinds. This stream rises in the S. 
E. corner of Grafton, and winds a devi- 
©us course of about 20 miles, in which 
it receives many small branches. The 
high falls near Troy, are well worthy 
the attention of curious travellers. 

Port Gewksee, see Gates. 

X'onx Watsost, see Homeh. 

PnospECT Hill, see Hudson, and Fiat - 

BUSH. 

PuLTESEXVIIXEP. O.jSee WlttlAMSON. 



Q. 

qUEEXSBURY, a Township of 

Washington County, on the N. side of 
Hudson river, about 58 miles N. of Al- 
bany; bounded N. by Caldwell, E by 
Kingsbury, S. by Hudson river or Sara- 
toga County, W.by Luzerne, being about 
7 miles square. Queensbury was one of 
the original Towns, erected March 7, 
1788, and then comprised the territory 
which now forms the Towns of Bolton, 
Caldwell, Chester, Hague, Johnsburgh, 



Luzerne, /orvierly Fairfield, Queensbury 
and Thurman, being all that part of the 
Co. of Washington lying W. of Kingsbu- 
ry and Lake George. The W. part is a 
loose sandy soil, timbered with pine, 
but the E. part is more loamy and the 
soil stronger. The surface is very level, 
and similar to that of Kingsbury. Its 
southern boundary is the Hudson ; and 
Half --waif brook, runs eastward into Wood 
creek, near old Fort Anne, besides many 
smaller streams on which are mills. — 
There are some pretty extensive marsh- 
es, though not of the worst kind, and 
they afford coarse hay in abundance. 
There are several small ponds, that call- 
ed Great pondy or better French pond^ 
being the largest and lying near French 
mountain in the N. part, 2 miles long 
and 1 1-2 wide. Its outlet is 2 1-2 miles 
lon^, on which stands 6 saw-mills, and 
one grist-mill. There is one Quaker 
meeting-house, two miles N. of Glen- 
ville, and a Presbyterian within that 
Village ; and about ten or eleven school- 
houses within this Town. There are 4 
grist-mills, 23 saw-mills, 10 stores, 8 
taverns, and a pretty competent number 
of common mechanics. This Town was 
first settled, March, 1766, and the early 
Inhabitants suffered much in the French 
and Revolutionary wars. The route from 
Fort Edward to Fort Wm. Henry, and 
Fort George, lay through this Town, 
which was a place of much blood-shed. 
There are now, 1810, about 250 taxable 
inhabitants, and 197 senatorial electors. 
Glen's Falls, on the Hudson, separately 
described, are principally within this 
Town, and are well worthy the atten- 
tion of Travellers. These Falls are 3 
miles W. of Sandy-Hill, and here is a beau- 
tiful and thriving Post-Village called 
Glenville, situated on the margin of the 
river. Here is a Post-Office, a number 
of mills, stores, &c., a central place for 
roads, and a toll-bridge across the Hud- 
son. Iron-ore is tound in the mountains, 
and limestone of a superior quality, a- 
long the river. The whole population 
in 1810, was 1948. The road from Sa- 
ratoga Springs to Lake George, crosses 
the Hudson at Glenville, and leads N. 
through this Town. There is a fine road 
along the Hudson, and the oiher roads 
are pretty numerous and good. 

M.P.,W.R.,J.V. 

QcAKEB-HiLL, see Pawling. 

Queens Countt, see page 95. 



2S0 



GAZETTEER OF NEWYORK. 



K. 

REAJ)IJ\rG, a Township of Steuben 
County, 23 miles N. E. of Bath, formed 
of the gore of land between the pre- 
emption line and the Seneca Lake, for- 
jnerl}' attached to Cayuga County. It is 
about 15 miles long N. and S., about 4 
miles wide at the S. end, and 2 at the N. 
end ; bounded N. by Ontario County, E. 
by Seneca Lake and County, S. by Tioga 
County, W. by Wayne. The land is of 
a good quality, and well watered, and 
lias a competent, supply of mill-seats on 
the small streams that fall into the Se- 
neca Lake. The timber consists of oak, 
walnut, chesnut, ash, &.c., and the soil 
5s excellent for wheat. The population 
5s 1210, and the senatorial electors 32. 
The settlement of this Town commenc- 
ed about 1806, and the population is 
yapidly increasing. 

E.C.,N.T. 

Redftelh, a Post-Township of Oneida 
County, 35 miles W. of N. from Jio7ne, 
and 148 miles N. W. from Albany ; 
bounded N. by Jefferson County, E. by 
Lewis County, Soiithei-ly by iplorence 
and Williamstown, W. by Richland. — 
This Town at present comprises two 
Townships, Redfield and Arcadia, on 
the Maps published by the Surveyor- 
General ; being 6 miles E. and W., and 
about 14 in length. It has the Black ri- 
ver turnpike from Rome to Brownville 
lengthwise through the Town, which is 
about equidistant between these two 
places; and there are some other roads. 
It is well watered by Salmon creek of L. 
Ontario running W. across the S. part, 
and by a main branch coming from the N. 
through the centi-al part. These streams 
supply abundaiice of mill-seats. The sur- 
face is but moderately uneven, or quite 
level, and has much of a rich mold soil, 
rather moist for grain. The forest trees 
;ire of various kinds, and a very great 
jjrowth. The settlements are of a i-ecent 
flate, and the population in 1810 was 362, 
Vith 5Y senatorial electors. 

N.T. 

Rempen, a Post-Township in the N.p. 
jangle of Oneida County, 17 to 35 miles 
iSjf. of ytica, and 107 from Albany ; 
bounded N. by Lewis County, E. by 
HerKiiuer County, S. by Trenton, \V. by 
Stenbcn and Boonville. Black riyer 
runs westward across this Towii; and 
Cincinnati creek eastward across the S. 
pnd, on which are a grist-mill, saw-mill 
S)i4 fulling-mill. The W. Canada creek 



forms a part of the E. boundary, and 
there are some other small mill-streams, 
on one of which is a grist-mill and saw- 
mill, The soil is generally good, and 
but moderately uneven. This Town was 
first settled in 1793, and in 1798 had 22 
families ;— in 1811, 97 families. The 
whole population in 1810, 489, and 33 
senatorial electors. There are 2 or 3 
school-houses, used also for meetings 
for worship. The lands are held in fee, 
and some by durable leases;* but the 
gi-eater part is unsettled, owned by per- 
sons in New-York. The State road from 
Johnstown to the Black river country 
is here intersected by the Utica turn- 
pike, 17 miles from Utica, where is the 
Post-Office. 

S.H. 
REKSsEtAERTii.i.E, a large Township 
in the S. W. corner of Albany County, 
24 miles S. W. of AlbRnij ,- bounded N. 
by Bern, E. by Coeymans and a small 
corner of Bethlehem, S. by Greene Co., 
W. by Schoharie County. Its extent N, 
and S. is about 8 1-2 miles, E. and W. 
10, giving an area of 85 square miles. 
Its surface is considerably uneven, and 
some part broken by rugged hills that 
belong to the range of the Helderbergs. 
The vallies, however, are numerous and 
fertile, and the diveisity of surface sup- 
plies a due admixture of arable with 
meadow ar.d pasture lands. The whole 
population in 1810, was 5928, including 
21 slaves, and there were also 515 elect- 
ors. There are 8 grain-mills, 16 saw- 
mills, 3 fulling-mills, 3 carding facto- 
ries employing 9 machines, 2 distilleries 
and an air-furnace. There are also 2074 
spinning-wheels in families, and 337 
looms, which make yearly about 53,000 
yards of cloth for clothing. The whole 
number of families may be 950, and the 
domestic stock is numerous ; the sheep 
alone amount to 10,800. Catskill creek, 
which enters the Hudson in Greene Co., 
rises in the S. E. corner of Schoharie 
County, and runs across the S. W. cor- 
ner of this Town, which is watered by- 
numerous branches of that stream, and 
which supply abundance of mill-seats. 
The turnpike roads are very numerous ; 
The Albany and Delaware turnpike, A- 
thens and Schoharie, and several branch- 
es, 5 or 6 in all, that traverse some part 
of this Town. A Correspondent esti- 
mates the whole length in miles, at 40, 
on which are 4 toll-gates that collect an- 
nually for toll, II72 dollars. Lands are 
principally held by leases from the Pro. 
prietor of the Manor of Rens«el?er.-r 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



281 



Limestone abounds in the Hclderberg 
ridges, and for a minute notice of these 
see Bern. There is a small Village of 
the name of the Town, though frequent- 
ly called • the City,' and there are one 
or two others also, but very inconside- 
rable in population. The domestic e- 
conomy of the inhabitants is rapidly im- 
pi'oving, and this is seen in their agri- 
culture, and in the vast increase of hous- 
hold manufactures, which supply the 
most of common and much of the better 
clothing. 

J.P.,S.C. 
Rrinebeck, a Post-Townsliip in the 
N. W. corner of Dutchess County, 18 
miles N. of Poiighkeepaie, and 67 S. of 
Albany ; bounded N. by Columbia Coun- 
ty, E. by Northeast, Southerly by Clin- 
ton, W. by the Hudson, an extent of 15 
miles. This Town was settled at an ear- 
ly period by some German families, and 
derives its name from the river Rhine 
in Germany, and the name of Beekman, 
an original proprietor. The surface is 
level in the W., and but moderately un- 
even in the E. part. The Rhinebeck 
flats are well known, as a pleasant ti-act 
of easy soil, in the S. part of the Town ; 
Hedhooh Village, in the N., is a pleasant 
Post-Village, 47 miles S. of Albany, on 
the stage-road to New-York ; and there 
is a Landing of the same name. In the 
S. E., is a tract called Wittemberg. — 
The soil is light, and was much ex- 
hausted, but is restored by the use of 
g-ypsum, and the consequent improve- 
ments in agriculture. There are 4 Land- 
ings on the Hudson, and the trade is 
very considerable. There are 3 Dutch 
Reformed Churches, and one for Meth- 
odists. A very extensive cavern has 
been discovered in this Town, which has 
enjoyed its day of great notice, and is 
still vi^orthy of the attention of curious 
visitants. There are 4 small streams 
that run into the Hudson, and afford 
mill-seats ; Crum-Elbow creek, Landts- 
man's creek. Saw creek, and one at Red- 
Hook; and there are also several small 
ponds. Much of the land in this Town 
is held in large tracts, and leased in 
farms to small tenants, but the freeholds 
are progressively increasing in number 
and value. There are 7 grain-mills, 3 
fulling-mills, a carding-machine, and 3 
distilleries : 36 looms m families, which 
produce about 16,000 yards of cloth for 
common clothing yearly. Of domestic 
stock, there are 6838 sheep, 3725 cattle, 
and 1225 horses. The taxable property 
\vas valued at ^810,700 in I8I0, agree- 



able to the Supervisors' Iwoks for that 
year. The Village at Rhinebeck flats, 
is very handsomely situated, and has a, 
Dutch Reformed CJhurch. 

N.T.,S.R.,S!,C.R. 

RicHFiF.i-D, a Post-Township of Otsego 
County, 13 miles N. W. of Cooperslown, 
72 miles a little N. of W- from Albany, 
and 18 S. W. from Utica. It is about 8 
miles long E. and W., by 4 N. and S.: 
bounded N. and W. by the County of 
Herkimer, S. by Plainfield and Exeter, 
E. by Canaderaga or Schuyler's Lake, a 
head source of the Susquehanna. The 
surface is moderately uneven, well wa- 
tered with springs and brooks, and the 
soil good and productive of the common 
agricultural products of the country. — 
The first settlements were made about 
1791. The common roads are kept in 
good order, and are conveniently dispos- 
ed ; and the 3d Great Western turnpike 
lies through this Town. The public 
buildings are, one house of worsliip for 
Episcopalians, and a Friendly Union 
church, built by joint subscription of 
Congregationalists and Baptists ; and a 
competent number of scliool-houses. — 
An Academy, is also in contemplation 
by the inhabitants. There are 2 grist- 
mills, eight saw-mills, two carding-ma- 
chines, two distilleries, several asheries 
and fulling-mills, and a competent num- 
ber of common mechanics. The N. W, 
corner has the sources of the E. branch 
of Unadilla river, but thej^ are very- 
small. In 1810, the whole population 
was 2079, with 209 electors, 282 taxable 
inhabitants, and 195,426 dollars of taxa- 
ble property. 

E.P.,O.B. 

RrcniAij-D, a large Township in the 
N. W. angle of Oneida County, erect- 
ed in 1807 from the W. part of Redfield, 
55 miles N. W. of Utica ; bounded N. 
by Jefferson County, E. by Redfield and 
WlUiamstown, S. by Wiiliamstown and 
Mexico, W. by Lake Ontario. At pre- 
sent this Town comprises the Townships 
named Campania, Longinus, Alkmaer, 
Rhadamant and Richland, on the Maps 
of the Surveyor-General, with an area of 
about 208 square miles. The settle- 
ments are but of recent date, and the 
principal part is wholly wild. The whole 
population in 1810 was 947, and tliere 
were then 152 senatorial electors ; but 
the population is increasing, and the 
land is of a pretty good quality in gene- 
ral, and much of it very excellent. It is 
but moderately uneven, and is very well 
watered. Salmon creek, a fine lairc 



282 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



stream that rises in the S. W. part of 
Lewis County, runs W. across this tract 
to Lake Ontario. Little Sandy creek 
rises in the N. part, and runs W. also to 
the Lake, as do some smaller stj-eams 
that abound with fisli of various kinds, 
and supply abundance of mill-seats. — 
There is a road from Ronie to the mouth 
of Salmon creek, and one also N. and S. 
through this Town. 

N.T. 

Riga, a Township of Genesee County, 

20 miles N. easterly from Batavia ,- 

bounded N. by Parma and Gates, E. by 

Genesee river or the County of Ontario, 

5. by Caledonia, W. by Murray. It is 
about 13 miles in lent^th E. and W., and 
6 1-2 miles wide. It is handsomely wa- 
tered by Black creek and another small 
stream that runs E. to the Genesee river. 
Slack creek is boalable to the mills in 
IV. Pulleney. The land is t>"ood, and the 
settlements are rapidly increasing in po- 
pulation, by emigrant families from the 
Eastern States, and by natural increase. 
The first settlements were made in 
March, 1806, and the present population 
is 863, with 42 senatorial el< ctors. The 
taxable property, as valued by the As- 
sessors, g51,139. Wed-Pnltcney is a h)- 
cal name for a tract of about 4 miles by 

6, the seat of a religious Society formed 
in November, 1807, the year after the 
first settlement. This Society contains 
row, 1810, 67 fimilies, and 442 souls; — 
the whole number of births have been 
45, of marriages 7, and of deaths 7 ; 5 oi' 
v.'hich were infants. Here is also u small 
library, and a house that accommodates 
a. school, and meetings for worship. Tlie 
laudable zeal that prompted these ea'.ly 
social regulations, induced Cul. 11. Troup 
to grant a donation of two lots of land 
to the Society. Kast-J'itUeiiey^ is merely 
iiamed by my Correspondents, which is 
all that I know of it. 

n.r..,ii.s &R.T. 

HiTi:EUEA-p, a Post-Township, tlie ca- 
pital of ''u(h)lk County, on the N. side 
<>(' Long-Island, 90' mlks E. of New-Yoi k, 
and 250 from Albany ; boimded N. by 
^i.ong-Isiand Sound, E. by Southold, ^•. 
by Southampton and B; ookhaven, W. by 
Brookhaven : being 16 miles long E. and 
WL, and 4 to T viiile. Pcconic Bay, and 
the river or creek of the same name, 
form the southern boundaiy, and Wa- 
dii'.g creek runs >f . on tlic W. line 11-2 
mile, and foima a small harbor at its 
mouth in the Sound- The surface is 
iJroken on the N. by a range of clilis one 
nile from the Sound, where isabundunce 



of shrubbery, and among which is the 
Bay-berry, (he berries of which afford 
5 or 6 lbs. of tallow to the bushel. The 
interior surface is moderately uneven, 
and the soil various, as is the timbei", 
though principally pine, with some oak, 
walnut and chesnut. In 1810 the taxa- 
ble property amounted to 233,415 dol- 
lars, when there were 216 electors, and 
a whole population of 1711, includinjf 
22 slaves. See Sotjtiiold, for the early 
histoiy, &c., this Town having been e- 
recled from the W. part of that in 1792- 
And for its present domestic economy, 
the character of its Inhabitants, &.C., see 
also Southold, to save a dull repetition. 
Happily for my readers, few will ever 
have occasion to read a Gazetteer in the 
order of its pages, and I shall of course 
find little commiseration for the drudge- 
ry of detailed description, so minute, 
similar and uninteresting. What then ? 
Every Town, Village, and other snbject 
of description, must have its proportioii 
of local detail, and I seize an amiab'e 
and interesting trait which merits emi- 
nent notice, determined to persevere, 
unmindful of my labor, though I cannot 
forget the perplexing difiiculties that 
thicken upon me in tlie way of its just 
execution. Thanks to the liberality of 
my Correspondents, I have abundant ma- 
terials, but the just scale of discrimina- 
tion in determining what to reject and 
what to detail, can only be known by 
personal inspection. 

In 1810, there were 330 taxable inha- 
bitants, and on an average of 10 years, 
there had not been more than 5 persons 
entered on the Records as Toiun Poor ; 
the tax fcr the support of which, with 
all other incif^entul Town expenses, does 
not exceed, annually, S250. The whole 
number of dwellings 270. The inhabi- 
tants are of English American descent, 
plam in their manners, sobei-, frugal, 
hospitable and industrious. 'Ihere are 
4 houses for public worsihip ; 3 for Con- 
gregationalists, and one for Presbyteri- 
ans ; and 7 school-houses. Peconic creek, 
which forms the S. boundary of River- 
head, supplies 3 grain-mills, 4 saw- 
mills, 2 luliing-milis, a cavdtng-machme, 
bloomei) , and some other water works- 
The agriculture is rapidly improving, as 
are the houshold manufactures, natural 
consequences of an improved care and 
selection of the best breeds of domestic 
stuck. Coid-wood, for fuel, is sent to 
^ew-York in great quantities, and the 
principal trade for foreign articles is di- 
rect with that City. Peconic Baij, af- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



28: 



fords water for vessels of 70 tons to the 
mouth of Peconic creek, 2 1-2 miles from 
the court-house at Riverhead Villag-e. 
There are 2 prnicipal roads running" E. 
and W, ; North road, about 1 mile from 
the Sound, and Soutli road, near Peco- 
nic river, the main route of travel to 
New-York. There are 6 Villag-es and 
neighborhoods, known by local names ; — 
iSt. Gcorffe's Manor, comprises the S. W. 
part, and has 35 families ; Wadliiff Ri- 
ver, in the N. W., oO houses, compact ; 
Baiting-Hollow, near the centre, on the 
N. road, has 28 houses ; Jiir>erhead, on 
the S. road, has the County buildings, 
and 14 dwellings — sittiated near Peconic 
river where are mills, &c., 2j miles from 
the head oP Peconic bay ; Aquebogne, In 
the E., and W. Aqtceboffue, in the W-, 
comprise the eastern, part, and have a- 
bout 140 houses, being the most popu- 
lous part of the Township. 

J.R.&.T.F, 
Rochesteh, a large Township of Ul- 
ster County, 14 to 20 miles S. W. of 
Kingston ; bounded Northerly by Mar- 
bletown, Easterly by New-Paltz, South- 
erly by Wawarsing, Westerly by Shanda- 
ken. It has the Shawangunk mountain 
in the S. E , on the E. side of which 
is the line ; and on the W. side runs 
Rondout creek, which receives several 
branches, the largest of which is Mom- 
backus creek. These streams supply 
abundance of mill-seats ; and the dimi- 
nished ridges of the Shawangunk moun- J 
tain present no very lofty or rugged 
summits, and which, within a few miles 
is penetrated by Rondout and Esoi)us 
creeks. The land is of a pretty good 
quality for farming, and the houses arc 
distributed over the farms rather than 
gathered in clusters. Yet Mombackus 
letains its local name. The whole po- 
pulation in 1810, was 1882 persons, with 
149 electors ; when there were 128 looms 
in families, which made that year 26,624 
yards of cloth for common clothing. — 
There is .an old stone church, of the 
Dutch Reformed order, out of repair, 
and a vacant ministry. The Navasink 
turnpike from Kingston to Sidlivan Co., 
leads through this Town. Here, as in 
many other of the old Dutch settle- 
ments, are patented lands, held in trust 
for the inhabitants ; but the title* to 
farms are commonly in fee-simple. 

C.T. 

Rockland, a Township of Sullivan 

County, adjoining Ulster and Delaware 

Counties, erected in 1809 ; bounded N. 

E. by Ulster, N. W. by Delaware, S. by 



Liberty, E. by Navesink— about 15 by 
9 miles : the area, 60,000 acres. Popu- 
lation, 309 souls ; senatorial electors, oo. 
Taxable fast property, 106,739 dollars, 
of which S89,04S is owned by non-resi- 
dents ; personal property, 1554 dollars ; 
aggregate, g 108,29.5, agreeable to the 
Assessors' books. It is principally with- 
in great lots No. 4 and 5 of Harden- 
bergh Patent. The settlements are new, 
and the country broken and not very in- 
viting. Lauds holden by the possessors, 
under leases of various duration ; some 
for life. The principal streams are, the 
Williwemock, and Big and Little Beaver 
creeks. 

LB. 
RoBMAv, a Post-Township of Jefferson 
County, formerly Harrison, name chang- 
ed in 1808, designated Orpheus on De 
Witt's Maps. It is situated 15 miles E, 
Of Lake Ontario, .ind 12 W. of Black ri- 
ver ; well watered by the N. branch of 
Great Sandy creek, and some small 
streams of the other branch : Bounded 
N. by Watertown and a small part of 
Rutland, E. by Pinckney, S. by Lorraine, 
W. by Adams, being 6 miles square. 
This Town was first settled in ISOl, and 
now contains, 1810, 214 families, and 
1281 souls. There were in 1808, 146 
senatorial, and 90 assembly electors ; in 
1810, 213 senatorial electors ; and the 
agricultural improvements have kept 
pace with the inci'ease of wealth and 
population. There are 4 grain-mills, 6 
saw-mills, one fulling-mill, a carding, 
machine, and 3 distilleries. As yet no 
houses of worship are erected, but there 
are 4 school-houses, in which meetings 
are held, and a Minister of the Congre- 
gational order was settled in 1809. The 
soil is of a superior quality, and pro- 
duces wheat, maize, rye, oats, flax, pease, 
and grass, indifferently ; being warm, 
and congenial for all the common agri- 
cultural products of the climate. The 
apple, pear, plum, and quince tree, suc- 
ceed well ; but the peach tree yields to 
the severity of the winter frost, though 
it grows luxuriantly in summer. Iron, 
ore has been found in small quantities ; 
and the country abounds with pieces of 
coarse earthen-ware, a common vestige 
of Indian possession, if not of Indigenal 
improvement in former times. There 
are also small mounds or tumuli, and 
tlie remains of some labored works, e- 
rccted for defence or some other pur- 
pose. The climate is healthful, and the 
inhabitants are mostly emigrants from 
the Eastern States , prcservmg; all their 



284 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



characteristic industry, economy, and, I 
believe I may add, hospitality. 

J.D. 

RoMi-., a Post and half Shire Township 
of Oneida County, 15 miles N. W. of 
Utica; bounded N. by Western, E. by 
Floyd, S. by Whitestown and Westmore- 
land, W. by Verona and Benp^al. The 
length is 8 to 11 miles, and about 7 miles 
wide. It embraces the head of navig-a- 
tion of the Mohawk, and of Wood creek, 
which here approach within | of a mile, 
and are connected by a Canal of 1 1-2 
mile in lengtli, of a capacity for boats 
of 10 to 15 tons.* Along the Mohawk 
and its waters, the land is of a superior 
quality, gently uneven and excellent for 
farming ; while that part bordering on 
Wood "creek, is very level, and too wet 
except for grass. Watered by the Mo 
hawk, Woodr ceek and their branches, 
and washed on its western boundary by 
Pish creek, and having the Canal in its 
centre, the irrigation is abundant, and 
adds nnscli to the comparative value of 
this Township Us position is command- 
ing; but the progress of population has 
been retarded by the general tenure of 
titles to lands, which are life or durable 
leases. An extensive yellow pine plain, 
in the W. part of Rome, yields conside- 
rable tar, and lumber which is very va- 
luable. Iron-ore, of the bog kind, is 
said to abound in the W. part, and along 
Wood creek. There are 3 grain and 2 
saw-mills on the Mohawk, 3 on Wood 
oreek, 2 on smaller streams, and a ma- 
nufactory of scythes, shovels, spades, 
hoes, axes, &.c. There are also 2 card- 
in"--machines, 4 distilleries, a small 
woollen manufactory, a fulling-mill, and 
a brewery in the Town of Rome. In 
this Town was Fort Stumvix, built about 
3758, by the British, at the enormous 
expense of ^266,400, and, from a heap 
of ruins, rebuilt and enlarged in the Re- 
volutionary war, and called JVeiu J-'ort 
Schmjler. Its ruins are barely visible, 
near tlie village of Rome, between the 
waters of the Mohawk and AVood creek. 
The County buildings in this Town are, 
a brick court-house and a jail; and the 
State has erected a brick arsenal here, 
for the deposit of arms, &c. There is 
one house of worship, belonging to the 
Presbyterians, and 2 congregations of 
Baptists, and a few Methodists. But 
sonte of the school-houses, of which 
there are 7 or 8, are used tor worship- 
ing assemblies on the J^abbath. The first 

* See pnge 15. 



settlers* of this Town were some Dutch 
families, who, faithful to the habits if 
not the genius of their nation, planted 
tliemselves here for the purpose of car- 
rying boats and loads from river to ri- 
ver, with an eye, probably, to a future 
Canal. At present, the principal popu- 
lation of Rome consists of emigrants 
from the Eastern States, and may pro- 
bably amount to near 2000 souls. Rome, 
like Whitestown, is a kind of central 
point for roads, and they are kept in 
pretty good repair. That leading to 
Black river, called the State road, iS 
the most travelled, if we except the one 
to Whitestown. In a central position^ 
adjacent to the Canal, lies the Village of 
Rome, which see. Here are about 50 
dwelling-houses, and a considerable num- 
ber of other buildings. About half a 
mile from the Village, on the Mohawk, 
are valuable sites for hydraulic worksj 
where is a Merchant-mill, and other 
water machinery. It was in this Town 
that the severe battle at Oriskany was 
fought with the Indians, when General 
HerKimer lost his life. In 1810, the 
whole population was 2003, with 182 SC" 
natorial electors. 

J.H.,B.W.,&P.H. 

Rome, a pleasant and thriving Post- 
Village, in the Township of Rome, Onei- 
da County, 108 miles N. of \V. from Al- 
bany, and 13 miles from Utica, in the 
same direction, N. Latitude 43° 12', 1« 
27' E. Longitude from New- York. The 
Village lies on the N. side of the Canal, 
connecting the Mohawk with AVood 
creek ; commencing at the Mohawk, and 
extending westward about one half mile 
on a handsome street. There are about 
fifl}' wooden dwelling-houses, a brick 
court-house, in which are held the courts 
for Oneida County alternately with Uti- 
ca, a jail, Presbyterian meetinghouse^ 
an arsenal for the deposit of military 
stores, and sundry shops, &c., in all 
about ^0. 

P.H ,J.H.&B.W. 

RoMFLUs, a Post-Township in the cen- 
tral part of Seneca County, 10 miles N* 
of Ovid, and 200 miles AV . of Albany; 
b>>unded N. by Fayette, E. by Cayuga 
Lake and County, -^ by Ovid, VV. by Se- 
neca Lake or the County of Ontario. Its 
area is about eqtial to 8 miles square. 
It is an excellent tract of land, having 
very little unht for cultivation. Along 
the Lakes, the timber consists princi- 
pally of oak, but in the interior, of a 

* See page c>5. 



4:JAZETTEER OP^ NEW-YORlt. 



^85 



jT^reat variet}', such as oak, maple, beech, 
&c. The streams are small, and, with 
the exception of Canoga creek, merely 
short ones that run E. or W. to the 
Lakes above mentioned ; but they are 
sufficient for 'mills, and supply a good 
variety There are 3 grain-miJls, 7 saw- 
mills, and some smaller works ; — 3 tan- 
ner's works, 6 distilleries of grain and 
fruit spirits, which make 12,730 gallons 
Jin a year, worth §7956 ; and 5 pot-ash 
works. There are 102 mechanics, em- 
ployed at 11 different trades. The land 
is held by right of soil. Near the cen- 
tre of the Town is a handsome Presby- 
terian, and 1 1-2 W., a Baptist meeting- 
house, with settled ministers ; and there 
are about 9 or 10 school-houses. In 
1810, the population was 2766, the 
rumber of families 431, and of senato- 
rial electors 179. This Town was first 
settled in 1788, by some few families 
from Northumberland County in Penn- 
sylvania. Some families have made 2000 
pounds of sugar in one season from the 
juice of the ucer saccharinum, the com- 
mon and invaluable sugar maple. Its 
agriculture is fast improving, and Very 
respectable ; and the farm-lands and 
iioushold wheel and loom supply a large 
part of the clothing of the inhabitants : 
113 looms in families, produced 30,342 
yards of cloth in 1810. There are three 
small Villages known by local names ; 
and Lnncasier has a Post-Office of the 
same name. This is in the S. W. corner, 
on the Seneca Lake, and has about 20 
houses. Plymoutli, two miles further N., 
is called a village also, but is very in- 
considerable, .'/p/z/e Toivn, on the Se- 
neca shore, in the N. W. part, was once 
the residence of a tribe of Indians, whose 
apple orchards, still remaining, have 
given the name to a small Village. Ca- 
noga spring, which rises near the N. 
line of this Town, forms Canoga creek, 
that enters Seneca river at the Village 
of Jefferson in Fayette. This stream 
drives a saw and grist-mill within a few 
rods from the springi Limestone is 
plenty. 

J.C.,SiS.A. 
RoxBURT, a Post-Township of Dela- 
ware County, 22 miles E. of Delhi, 40 
W. of CatskiU and 56 S. W. of Albany ; 
bounded N. W. by Stamford, Northerly 
by Schoharie County, E. by Windham in 
Greene County, Southerly by Aliddle- 
towrt. Its extent is about equal to 10 
by 8 miles, with an area of 80 square 
miles. The Papacl»tan, or E. branch of 
the Diilaware rises here and runs S. AV., 



supplying mill-seats. There are 6 grain- 
mills, 11 saw-mills, a fulling-mill, and 
a manufactory of grass-scythes and other 
iron implements of husbandry. The sur- 
face of this Town is considerably moun- 
tainous or hilly, but has much of arable, 
meadow and pasture lands, and its po- 
pulation is increasing. The taxable pro- 
perty assessed in 1810 was valued at 
S86,359, when tiiere wete 300 taxable 
inhabitants, 362 families, and a popula- 
tion of 1892 souls. There were also 73 
looms in families, which produced 20,674- 
yards of cloth. There is one meeting- 
house, and 11 school-houses. Tlie inha- 
bitants came principally from the Eastern 
States, and the Town has been settled 
since about 1790. A small pond in this 
Town discharges S. the source of Pa- 
pachtan, and at the N. end also sends a 
small stream to Schoharie creek, which 
jtist touches the N. E. corner of this 
Township. 

J.T.M.,O.P.&C.G. 

Russell, a Township of St. Lawrence 
County, about 25 miles S. easterly from 
Ogdensburgh, erected in 1807. It con- 
sists of JBallybeen, and a part of De Witt, 
a.s marked on the Survcyoi'-General's 
Maps ; and is about 10 miles N. and S., 
by 6 1-2 E. and W. The surface mode- 
rately une\'en, abundantly watered with 
small springs and rivulets, the soil moist 
and ni(jist excellent for grazing. Iliis 
Town was first settled by Russell At- 
water, Esq., in 1805, from whom it has 
its name. The population, by the Cen- 
sus of 1810, 394; and tliere are about 40 
senatorial electors. Grass riverj here 
about ten rods wide, runs northerly 
through Russell, and with other smaller 
streams, aflbrds abundance of good sites 
for mills. Previous to 1811, there had 
been 40 births, and but one death in this 
Town. By the act of incorporation, the 
following Townships are temporarily at- 
tached to Russell ; Clare, Clifton, Chau- 
mont, Emilyville, Sarahburgh, Scriba, 
Bloomfield, Fitzwilliara, Edwards ,Por- 
taferry, Kilkenny, Somerville and Ham- 
mond. The soil of these is very vari- 
ous, and some part much broken. In 
Fitzvvilliam and Somerville are some re- 
cent settlements, and the soil is excel- 
lent. 

A road from Caldwell, at the head of 
Lake George, to Canton in St. LaAVTence' 
County, will be opened in 1810, and will 
much shorten the distance to Albany, 
A turnpike road is also opening from 
Black river to Malone. This intersects 
tiie Lake George road where it crosses 
37 



286 



GAZETOEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Grass river. Iron-ore is found in Chau- 
mont, and many indications in other 
parts of this tract. Quarries of indiffer- 
ent limestone abound. Ed-.uards is call- 
ed one of the best Townships of this 
tract. — An Arsenal is now building in 
the Town of Russell, at the expense of 
About S3000, for the use of the State. 
P.G.,R.A.&H.R. 

Russia, a Post-Township at the N. 
end of Herkimer County, 26 miles N. of 
Herkimer, formerly Union, erected in 
1806 from Norway ; name changed to 
Russia, April 6, 1807 : bounded N. by 
St. Lawrence County, E. by Montgome- 
ry County, S. by IS'orway and Newport, 
"VV. by Oneida and Lewis Counties ; com- 
J)rehending all that part ©f Herkimer 
County N. of Norway, and being about 
40 miles long W. and S., and about 16 
wide- But the settlements are confined 
to 7 or 8 niil'es of the S. end,, or rather 
a narrow strip along W. Canada creek, 
at the S. W. corner of the Town. The 
laortherrt part is clothed with impenetra- 
ble forests of spruce, fir, larch, and some 
pine, and the soil is as forbidding as its 
forest woods would indicate. Yet there 
are tracts of arable land, on which farm- 
ers might get a poor living ; but the ge- 
neral character of tte land is very unin- 
viting. The N. end sends some small 
waters to Oswegatchie river, and Moose, 
Beaver, and one or 2 other creeks run 
W. to Black river from its wilds N. of 
and near the centre. Bro-ms Tract, as 
it is called, is principally in this Town, 
consisting of 7 Townships, only remark- 
able for the mild and moral virtues of 
their names on the Map. But the south- 
ern part is well supplied with mill- 
strean\s, and has a tolerable soil. In 1810, 
it contained 238 families,' 1381 persons 
in all, and 112 senatorial electors;— 
vheu ihe taxable property was assessed 
at S104,512. The roads from Johns- 
town and Herkimer to the Black river 
country, unite at W. Canada creek in 
the priucipal settlement of Russia. 

J.N.&A.C. 

■RcTTiANi),. a Bost-Township of Jeffer- 
son County, 512 miles from Washington, 
and 170 N. W. from Albany, Milan, on 
Be ^Vltt's ]Maps. This Town was first 
erected in 1802, from a part of Water- 
town, then in Oneida Conuty; and is 
hounded N. on Black river, E. by Cham- 
pion, S. by Plnckney and a small part of 
Rodman, W. by Watertown. It is 5 
miles wide, and its medial length N. and 
S. 8^, giving an area of about 28,000 
vSinzi. The soil is generally a chocolate 



colored light loam, with a small mixture 
of fine ailicious sand, very fertile of 
grain and grass, arable, almost without 
exception. This part of the Black river 
country is generally underlaid by lime- 
stone, but at a considerable depth. The 
timber is maple, beech, elm, bass op 
linden, butternut, some birch, and somo 
white-pine along the river. The first 
settlement of this Town was commenc- 
ed in July, 1809, by A, Miller, Esq., 
agent for William Henderson, the pro- 
prietor. Isaac Bronson, Esq., now owns , 
by purchase from W. H., the right of 
soil, excepting about 10,000 acres, sold 
to actual settlers. There are now about 
270 families, and pi-obably 1600 souls. 
Four saw-mills, 2 grist-mills, a distille- 
ry, and several mills, &c., close on the 
borders of the adjoining Towns. The 
N. branch of Sandy creek runs through, 
the S. part of the Town. There are 
about 60 framed dwelling-houses, 85 
framed barns, 4 framed school-houses, 
and 4 merchant stores. The advance of 
population and improvements have beea 
very rapid in this and the adjoining 
Towns, and there are a competent num- 
ber of mechanics. Limestone, which af- 
fords good lime,, and is very good foe 
building, is pknt)-. Population in 1810, 
1712 souls. There are 288 senatorial 
electors. 

E.F. 

Rtf., a Post-Township in the S, E. an- 
gle of Westchester County, 29 miles 
from New-York, 5 S. E. of White-Plains^ 
and 142 S. of Albany ; bounded Easterly 
by the State of Connecticut, Southerly 
by Long-Island Sound, MV. by Harrison. 
Like most of the other Towns in this 
County,, it has but a small area, and its 
form is very irregular ; in the N. it ter- 
minates in a point. Byram river, runs 
1 or 2 m.jles on the E. Hue, and enters 
the Sound in the S. E. corner ; and Par- 
sonage Point runs far into the Sound.— 
The land is under good cultivation. 
There is a small Village of the s;imc 
name, on the road to Boston 25 miles 
from New- York, and another small Vil- 
lage on the E. line. There is nothing to 
demand minute detail. The taxable pro- 
perty, as valued by the Assessors in 
1810, amounted to §319,871, when there 
were 225 taxable persons, 85 senatorial 
electors, and a whole population of 1278 
persons. 

S.IX 

Racket Ritkb, a very considerahl-? 
stream that enters the E. bank of the Sto^ 
Lawrence, 2 miles above St. Regis, near 



GAZETTEER OP NEW-YORK. 



287 



the intersection of the boundary line 
between Canada and the United States. 
It rises in the mountainous country west- 
ward of Lake Champlain, near the head 
waters of the Hudson and Black rivers, 
running- through Macomb's purchase, 
Potsdam, Louisville and Massena. It is 
a very deep, crooked, slugglish stream 
for a considerable part of its whole 
length, and runs through several large 
ponds. When it arrives within about 
50 miles of the St. Lawrence, it becomes 
very rapid, and continues about 30 miles. 
Within that distance, there ai-e several 
large cataracts, and in the Township of 
Cookham, it falls 200 feet in a short dis- 
tance. When it arrives at Louisville, 
20 miles from its mouth, it becomes 
smooth, and affords good navigation for 
boats of 5 tons burden to the St. Law- 
rence, whence boat navigation is good lo 
Montreal. In Potsdam it is about 250 
yards broad, in Massena 16 rods, and its 
whole comparative course is about 120 
miles. 

B.R.&S.R. 

Racketon VitiAGu, see Louisville. 

Ramapd Works/ Post-Oifice, or Pier- 
son's Works, see Hampstead, Rockland 
County. Here is a Village of 60 houses, 
and a vast scene of manufacturing, prin- 
cipally in iron, besides mills, 8cc. It 
stands in tlie valley of Ramapo river, 2 
miles N. of the southern extremity of 
the Highlands, on the Albany and New- 
York stRge-road, 130 miles from Albany, 
and 40 from New- York. 

Ramapo, or Ringwood, a branch of 
ihe Passaic river of New-Jersey, rises in 
the S. E. of Orange County, and runs S. 
across the W. angle of Rockland also in 
this State, wliere it enters New-Jersey. 
It is a very valuable stream for mills, 
abounding with rapids and falls, on 
which are erected several of the exten- 
sive Iron Works noticed in the Topog- 
raphy of the above Counties. Its whole 
sourse in this State may be about 23 
miles. S.T. 

Redhook, Village and Post-Office, see 
Rhiseueck; — see also BaooKLTs. 

Rensselaerwtck, or the Manoii of 
Rensselaer, comprises a very extensive 
tract on both sides of the Hudson, hav- 
ing Albany nearly in the centre. It is 
24 miles wide on the river, and about 
42 miles long E. and West ; bounded on 
the N. by Schenectady and Saratoga 
^Jounties, and by the Towns of Schaght- 
icoke, Pittstown and Hoosac, in the 
County of Rensselaer ; E. by Vermont 
and Massachusetts, S. by Columbia and 



Greene Counties, W. by Schoharie Coun- 
ty. Albany County, and Rensselaer also, 
excepting the Towns named above, are 
comprised within this tract, which, with 
some exceptions, is the absolute proper- 
ty of Stephen Van Rensselaer, Esq. Al- 
bany City, which see, is common pro- 
perty, belonging to the people of Alba- 
ny, vested for ever, for their use, in its 
constituted authorities; and there are 
several other tracts belonging to indi- 
viduals. The title to this Patent is de- 
rived from several successive Grants by 
the Government of Holland, dating back 
as far as the year 1641, and later and 
confirmatory grants by the King of Eng- 
land. The first grant was made in 1641 
to Killian Van Rensselaer, who had pur- 
chased the native right of soil, under 
the conditions stipulated by the Dutch 
Qovernment. His Bills of purchases 
from the Indians, which are now before 
me, are dated in the years 1630, 1631-, 
163r, 1648 and 1649. When this coun- 
try changed masters, passing from the 
Dutch to the English, again for a short 
time to the Dutch, and finally again to 
the English, some controversies arose 
about indemnities, but the private right 
of the original Proprietor of the Colony 
of Rensselaerwyck, was never question, 
ed. And on the 4th of March, 1685, the 
whole was confirmed by Letters Patent 
under the great seal of the Province of 
New-York, by Thomas Dongan, Lieute- 
nant-Governor of the same. The origi- 
nal design of the Dutch Government 
extended only to the founding of Colo- 
nies in this country, by citizens of Hol- 
land, who should amicablv acquire the 
Indian title to the lands ; and the Foun- 
der of a Colony was therefore styled its 
Patron, by the Bill of privileges, and 
the Deed of conveyance, the latter of 
which was only granted when the native 
right had been acquired by purchase.-c- 
For the quality of the lands, with the 
population, improvements, &c., see Al- 
bany and Rensselaer Counties, with the 
several Xowiis into which they are di- 
vided. 

Rensselaer Village, jn the Town of 
Berlin, 12 miles E. from Albany, is si- 
tuated about one mile S. of the Eastern 
turnpike from Bath to Williamstown in 
Massachusetts. This Village is the site 
of an extensive manufactory of Window 
Glass, established m 1805, by a compa- 
ny incorporated for that purpose. There 
are 2 large houses, one for the making 
of cylinder, and the other for croMiu 



288 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



j^lass,* with all the necessary appendant 
buildings lor every part of the work 
<;onnected with this branch of manufac- 
ture. Here are 34 dwellings, all of which 
excepting 4, belong to the company, and 
present, together with the many shops, 
&c., an interesting spectacle. A small 
natural pond adds a pleasing diversity, 
and its outlet, winding among the rocks 
and huge blackened temples of manu- 
facturing industry, supplies the mills 
connected with the establishment. — 
These various works employ about 100 
hands, and consume about 20,000 cords 
of wood annually. A turnpike road, 
now opening, from this Village to Ste- 
phentown Hollow, and the opulent farm- 
ing Towns on tlie E., will probably 
prove highly beneficial to its interests. 

T.F. 
REKssELAEn CouNTT, sce page 96 ; 
Richmond County, see p. 97 ; Rockx,anb 
County, p. 98. 

Rensselaer's Mills, Village, see Pe- 
tersbuhgii. 

The Rip RE Road, or Alluvial Wat, is 
a grand work of nature, noticed under 
Natural Curiosities, page 517. This ridge 
lies along the S. shore of Lake Ontario, 
between that and the northern terrace 
or ledge of rocks, and extends from Ge- 
nesee river to Niagara river. It is com.- 
posed of common beach sand and gravel 
ptones, apparently worn smooth by the 
action of water ; and the whole inter- 
mixed with small shells. Its general 
width is from 4 to 8 rods, and it is rais- 
ed in the middle with a handsome 
crowning aix:h, from 6 to 10 feet. Its 
general surface preserves a very vmiform 
level, being raised to meet the imeven- 
ness of the ground through which it 
lies. A road vi now opened upon it 
from Lewis ton to Genesee river, a dis- 
tance of 87 miles ; and though very lit- 
tle labor has been bestowed upon it, the 
Alluvial Way is already called a pretty 
good road, extending E. and W. across 
Genesee and Niagara Counties. At the 
Genesee. and Kiagara rivers, it is found 
lo be elevated about 120 to 130 feet, and 
this of course determines its elevation 
from Lake Ontario, from which it is dis- 
tant from 6 to 10 miles, toward which 
there is apretly uniform though gradual 
descent. When the wood shall be re- 
moved from tlie intermediate lands, and 
the eye survey the vast extent of a 

* Since the above luas -written, thecro-uni- 
house has been coiis^imed by Jire, bitt it is 
n^-iv rc-ftwiWiVig- on g?j improved plan. 



boundless view, embracing Lake Onta- 
rio throughout this whole distance, this 
Road will present one of the greatest o£ 
temptations for tourists. And Niagara, 
the wonder of the world, roars in terri- 
ble majesty near the western limit of 
the Alluvial Way. To account for this 
stupendous work of nature, is not my 
object; but that it was formed by the 
action of water is very evident, and that 
water must have been no other than 
Lake Ontario., now settled away to 130 
feet below this ancient boundary ; and 
the whole intermediate space is said to 
be good land, exhibiting strong eviden- 
ces of alluvial origin. 

A.P.&J.G. 

Robin's & Ram Islands, see South oid. 

Rogers' Rock, see Hague. 

RoNCONCOMA Pond, see Islip. 

RoNDOuT Cheek, see WallkillCbzek. 

Rosendale, seeEsopus, 



s. 



SARATOGA, a Post-Township of Sa- 
ratoga County, 12 miles N. E. of Balls- 
ton, and 31 N. of Albany ; bounded N. 
by Northumberland and Greenfield, B. 
by the Hudson, or the County of Wash- 
ington, S. by Stillwater and Malta, W. 
by Milton. It extends W. from the 
Hudson about 14 miles, being 5 miles 
wide ; and includes 3 1-2 miles of the 
N. end of Saratoga Lake in the centre, 
and all of Owl pond on the N. The Ky= 
adeross creek enters the S. W. corner, 
and runs eastward 5 miles to Saratoga 
Lake, in which its name is lost ; Fish 
creek, the outlet of S. Lake, runs E. near 
S miles to the Hudson, at the N. E. cor- 
ner of thia Town. These streams are 
very good for mills, and they supply 
a great abundance of mill-scats. Along 
the Hudson are some alluvial flats, prin- 
cipally of argillaceous mold ; and the 
river hills, of moderate height, present 
a soil of gravelly loam, timbered with 
oak, walnut. Sic. Around Saratoga lake 
the soil is a light sandy loam, and the 
timber white and yellow pine, which, 
continues to the W. end of the Town. — 
The surface is moderately uneven in ge- 
neral, and the small ridges of parallel 
hills extend W. from the Hudson to 
near the Lake ; and the western part has 
some pine plains that are quite level, 
with intervening marshes of alder and 
sedge-grass, and piany small valc^- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



289 



courses. The rocks are shistlc in the 
E., the central hills have abundance of 
silicious or flinty paving' stones, of a 
good size for field-wall, and the \V. has 
calcareous and shistic rocks, especially 
around Saratoga Springs, near tlie N.W. 
corner. Limestone also appears around 
the Quaker Springs, among the central 
hills. The E. half has much the best 
soil for farming, and it has also the 
largest share of the population. In 1810, 
the whole population was 3183, and 
there were 280 senatorial electors ; tax- 
able property, ^460,000. The celebrat- 
ed jyiineral Springs of Saratoga, are 
spread over a tract of about 12 miles in 
Ihls County, and are known abroad by 
this general appellation. But in their 
vicinity, the several springs are known 
by local names; — as Baliston Springs, 
originally in the Township of Ballstown, 
but now, by a division of that Town, in 
Milton, where is the Post-Village of 
Ballston-Spa ; Quaker Springs, little 
known, in the central part of the Town- 
ship of Sai'atoga, near a Quaker meet- 
ing-house ; and Saratoga Springs, near 
the N.W. corner of the same Township, 
which arc also known by local names. — 
The Saratoga Springs are situated on 
the \V. bank of a valley of some extent, 
through which flows a small stream that 
runs S. to Kyadeross creek, 12 miles W. 
of the Hudson, 7 E. of N. from Ballston, 
and 32 N. of Albany, Within a half mile 
there are 10 of these fountains, and pro- 
bably many more may be yet discovered. 
Near the centre of these, and on the de- 
clivity of the hill facing the E., the Rock 
Spririg arrests the earliest attention. 
This fountain is enclosed in a hollow 
rock of a conical form, that rises about 
5 feet, the base of which is about 9 feet 
in diameter. At the top is a circular 

10 inches. 




9 feet. 

opening of near 10 Inches diameter, and 
this opening enlarges downward, as is 
represented in the annexed sectional 
view. The water rises to the line drawn 
across the inner cavitj-, withiu 3 feet of 



the top, and is kept in a state of con- 
stant ebullition by the ascent of air-bub- 
bles of carbonic-Hcid-gas, which accu- 
mulate to overflowing in the hollow 
space above the water. This rock seems 
to have been formed by concretion, from 
the particles thrown up by the waters, 
and is of a spongy texture, soft and ea- 
sily broken, though the surface is more 
compact and hard, and of a deeper co- 
lor, approaching to that of the browa 
oxyd of iron formed of bog-iron-ore in a 
state of nature. There is a crack on one 
side, which is supposed to open a vent 
for the water below the surface of the 
earth that surrounds the x'ock; and tra- 
dition asserts, with every appearance of 
probability, that when this spring was 
first discovered, about 60 years since* 
the water flowed over the top of the 
rock. The water of this spring is su- 
per-saturated with carbonic-acid-gas, 
of wiiich it contains the greatest propor- 
tion of any of the waters of Saratoga- 
See Mineral Waters, page 24, for a 
brief account of these waters.* The 
Bathi7tg Spring, near the above, has its 
name from the common use of its waters 
in bathing. About a half mile S. of the 
Hock Spring, and at the bottom of the 
valley, is Co7igrcss Spring, so called from 
the collective strength and combined 
qualities of its waters. And near this 
are Columbia Spri7ig, supposed to be the 
strongest chalybeate, and Washington 
and Hamilton Springs. Between the Rock 
and Congress Springs, and about 80 rods 
N. of the latter, is Flat Rock Spring, 
with 1 or 2 others. These Springs, in 
common with those of Ballston, are much 
resorted to in the warm months. Board- 
ing-houses are erected, as at Ballston- 
Spa, and there are handsome Villages of 
2U to 30 houses at Rock Spring, and Con- 
gi'ess Spring, where is also a Post-Office. 
In the pages of American history, Sa- 
ratoga is a name that will long be asso- 
ciated with details of events of high im- 
portance. A people who had willed to 
be free, contending in arms for national 
freedom, here fought their haughty foe, 
and triumphed in victory. A^nd here, 
too, thousands bled and died in the 
cause of their country : and the tale has 
been told from the Mother to the Son, 

* And for a minute a7id interesti7ig ex- 
ami7iation of their contents, &c., see " A 
Dissertatio7i o7i the .Mineral Waters of 
Saratoga," by Dr. V. Seamaii, of JVeiv- 
York, m 131 12wio. pages, published in 
1809, 



290 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



how our kindred toiled and suffered and 
died, till all have lieard and grieved and 
mourned. Historians may narrate events, 
but the Mother only can engrave them 
on the memory. The surrender of Bur- 
g-oywe, with his whole army, consisting 
of 5791 effective men, occurred in this 
Town, Oct. 17, 1777. The British piled 
their arms on the bank of the Hudson, 
just on the N. side of Fish creek, where 
■are still to be seen the remains of an en- 
trenchment called Fort-Hardy. 

Tatlor's Si'iiiNGS. Since tlie above 
was written, 1 am informed of several 
other springs, recently discovered, on 
the lands of J. and Z. Taylor. They are 
8 in number, all within a small space, 
situated in a handsome vale, about 300 
rods E. of the Rock Spring, and tlie pro- 
prietors contemplate soon to erect hou- 
■ ses of acconjmodation. One of these is 
thought by a Correspondent to be a very 
strong purgative, not inferior *o Con- 
gress Spring in strength; and he says 
that its waters are very brisk, and highly 
charged with carbonic-acid-gas. Tlie 
others of various degrees of strength, 
are similar to the common mineral 
springs of Saratoga before described. — 
These springs have been many years co- 
vered by a mill-pond. Around one is a 
flat rock, of considerable extent.— 1813. 
J.S.,V.S.,J.G..<tJ.T. 
Salina, a Post-Township of Onondaga 
County, 5 1-2 miles N. of Onondaga, and 
130 W. of Albany ; bounded N- by Lysan- 
der and Cicero,E. by Cicero and Manlius, 
S. by Onondaga, W. by Camilius. This 
Town embraces the principal salt-springs 
ai>d salt-works of this State, with the 
Onondaga or Salt Lake. See Mi.xjeral- 
OGT, p. 23. The outlet of this lake 
communicates with Seneca river on the 
N. line, through which is opened an ex- 
tensive boat-navigation from the salt- 
works, by which the s:dt is readily con- 
veyed over the whole country of the 
great lakes in the interior of America, to 
\he Ohio, the St. Lawrence, and the Hud- 
son, and all with less than 50 miles of 
land carriage over some short port.ages ! 
fn ISIO, the whole population of Salina 
was 1259, and there were 73 senatorial 
electors. The salt trade, and the manu- 
facture of that article, employ a very 
large proportion of the inliabitants, who 
are necessarily collected hito clusters 
:iround the various works. The Vii.lagje 
of Salina, in th.c S., and at the E- end of 
the lake, contains about 90 houses, and 
near 80 salt-works or houses. About g 
of the dwellings are of iiewn log?;, and 



there is a large hotel or tavern, with a 
few other good buildings. This Village 
is 5 1-2 miles from Onondaga, and 36 
from Oswego. Livehpool, 3 miles down 
the Lake, on the E. shore also, has about 
SO houses, f of logs, and 35 salt-works. 
Here is a Fost-OJice of the same name, 
i53 miles from Albany. Salt is also 
made at the Middle Works, and some 
other detached places. Agreeable Xo 
the Census of 1810, there were 125 
blocks, containing in all 1010 kettles 
employed in boiling Salt-water, which 
produced that year 435,840 bushels of 
salt. These Springs belong to the peo- 
ple of the State, and for the incomes, 
&c., see RsvENUE and Expenses, p. 28, 
An officer is appointed by the State 
Council to superintend the public inter- 
ests in tliese works, who pays the reve- 
nues derived from them into the public 
treasury. 

J.G.&J.H. 
Satjgerties, a Post/Towhship in the 
N. E. angle of Ulster County, 13 miles 
N. of KingstoHy 52 S. of Albany, and 113 
N. of New-York ; bounded N. by Greene 
County, E. by the Hudson, S. by Kingston, 
W. by Woodstock and a part of Greene 
County. This Town was erected in 
1811, from the N. end of Kingston, the 
central part of which retained its former 
name, and the S. end was at the same 
time erected into a separate Town, 
called Esopus. The whole population 
of Saugerties, as computed by an intel- 
ligent Correspondent in 1811, amounted 
to 2194; and the senatorial electors are 
also supposed to be about 231- See Ul- 
ster County, page 109. Saugerties seems 
to be a name borrowed from the Saw- 
yer's kill or creek, and has long been 
applied to the N. part of Kingston.-— 
There is a small village called Sanger-. 
ties, at the mouth of Esopus creek, con- 
sisting of 12 or 14 houses, handsomely 
situated on a fine level plain, where is 
considerable business. Another settle- 
ment, consisting of a few scattered hou- 
ses, and a stone Dutch Reformed church, 
is called Kaatsbaan ; and ^Vest-Campy 
noticed under History and Gekmau- 
Towx, has a fev/ scattered houses and a 
Lutlieran church, near which is also a 
Methodist church. There is an excel- 
lent bridge over the PlattjcklU, on the 
New-York and Albany stage-road. A 
tvu-npike road leads from Saugerties Vilt 
lage to Woodstock, where it meets the 
Ulster and Delaware turnpike. The 
Kaater'a kill, descending from the Cats- 
berg mouu'*-;'.in's in the N, W. corner of 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOUK. 



2dl 



this Town, has a fall of 260 feet. This 
is a stream of Greene County, tliat just 
crosses the line into Ulster, in 2 places. 

CT. 

Salem, a Post-Township, and half-shire 
ToMn of Washington County, 46 noiles 
N. E. of Albany, and 18 S E. of Sandy- 
Uill, the other half-shire ; bounded N. 
by Hebron, E. by the State of Vermont, 
S. by Cambridge or the Battenkill, W. 
by Greenwich and Ar^yle. The great 
northern turnpike, from J.ansingburgh 
to Wells in Vermont, leads through this 
Townsliip, and is one of the best roads in 
the State. Battenkill, which forms the 
southern boundary, receives several 
small streams in this Town, and there 
are abundance of mill-seats. There are 
2 carding-machines, several fulling-mills, 
a woollen manufactory, and a large num- 
ber of grain and saw -mills. The flats are 
extensive and rich, and there are few 
Towns better adapted for agriculture, or 
more pleasantly diversified with gentle 
undulations, interspersed with fine val- 
lies and plains. Its agriculture is re- 
spectable and rapidly improving, as is 
every department of domestic economj'. 
In 1810, its population was 2833, with 
229 senatorial electors. It was llrst set- 
tled in 1764, by Alexander Turner and 
others, to whom tlie Town had been 
granted in 1761. The inhabitants suf- 
fered severely in the Ilevolutionary war, 
when they were driven from their homes, 
with the loss of much property ; and 
their meeting-house was consumed by 
fire. 

Saiem Viit-agb is situated on an ex- 
tensive plain, near the centre of the 
Township, on the northern turnpike, and 
is handsomely laid out in streets and 
squares. Tlie Courts are lield alter- 
nately here and at Sandy -Hill, a bad po- 
licy, but which will probably be reme- 
died within a few years, by a division of 
tlie County. Salem Village was incor- 
porated in 1803, and contains 66 dwell- 
ings, 4 storps, an academy, 2 churches, 
and a court-house and prison : the inha- 
bitants may be near 600. There is also 
a fire-engine company ; and there are 
some elegant mansions, that add much 
to the beauty of the place. 

J.L.B.&.T.P.K. 

Salisbury, a Township of Montgome- 
vy County, bounded N. by St. Lawrence 
County, E. by Stratford, S. by Manheim, 
W. by Herkimer County. This Townsliip 
is 64 miles in length N. and S., and 8 to 
12 miles wide at the S. end, but the N. 
en^ is- iiavrow and uninliabited- The 



improvements are confined to 8 miles of 
the S. end. The E. part of the tract* 
called Royal Grants are in this Town, 
as is the patent of Jersey fie Id, in which 
rises the W. branch of e' Canada creek, 
and the E. branch of W. Canada creek, 
also. On the S. E., for a few miles, E. 
Canada creek forms the boundary towai-d 
Oppenheim. The soil of the southern 
part is pretty good, wliile the northern 
is mountainous, marshy, and of but little 
value : the timber in the S. deciduous; 
in the N. evergreen and impenetrable 
wiids of most forbidding aspect. The in- 
habitants are principally Yankees ; and 
Yankee-bush, in the S. Vf. part of the 
Town has a Presbyterian meeting-house, 

4 miles E. of the academy in Fairfield, 
and 21 from Utica. Here is a small 
library, a school-house and a few dwell- 
ings. The S. E. part of the Town is 
called Pine-bush, where the soil is si 
liglit sand ; Yankee-bush has a loamy 
soil. Spruce creek is a fine mill-stream, 
and there ai-e abundance of sites for 
mills. There are 4 grain-mills, 8 saw- 
mills, 2 carding-machines, a fulling-mill, 
and a trip-hammer. The roads are pret- 
ty numerous and good. The Black river 
State road from Johnstown leads across 
the S. end, and is opening considerable 
intercourse. It crosses the main road 
of the Town, 1 mile E, of Yankee-bush, 
and 25 W. from Jolinsioiun. In 1810, the 
population was 1252, the whole number 
of taxable inhabitants 200, and of sena- 
torial electors 140; the taxable personal 
property g6255, reai estate §178,499. 

T.L.,&J.M. 
ScvRSDALE, a small Township of West- 
chester County, about 25 miles from 
New-York, and 3 S. of M^dte-Plains ; 
bounded N. and E. by White-Plains, S. 
by Mamaroneck, New-Ilochelle and E. 
Chester, W. by Greensburgh, the line 
being Bronx creek, or river as it is call- 
ed. Its area does not exceed 8 squaint 
miles, far too small for a Town ; and its 
population m 1810, was but 259, with 15 
electors and 36 taxable inhabitants ; the 
the whole amount of taxable property, 

5 120,290. The personal property forms 
5073 dollars of this sum. Ii is difficult 
to conceive on what principle this Coun- 
ty has been so minutely subdivided.— 
There is nothing tliat demands local de- 
tail. The land is pretty good for farm- 
ing, and is under good cultivation, iiv 
small farms. The inliabitants make most 
of their clothing in the houshold way. ' 

N.C.T.,S.D.,&J.^V. 
ScHEWECTADT, a City and also a Post- 



292 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



Township, the capital of Schenectady 
County, the centre of which is 20 miles 
N. W. of Albany ; bounded N. by Sara- 
toga County, E. by Saratog-a Co., and the 
Township of Niskayuna, S. by Albany 
County, W. by Prince town, and the S.E. 
y.ng-Ie of Montgomery County. Its extent 
is aboutequal to 10 miles square, and the 
j\Iohawk runs centrally through it on a 
devious course eastward. For the con- 
venience of municipal regulations, it is 
divided into 4 Wards, the 1st and 2d of 
which comprise the compact and ancient 
Town of Schenectady. The land is of 
various qualities, from the poorest of 
tandy loam, to the best of alluvial flats 
which are very extensive along the ri- 
ver. And much of the plains and uplands 
are but poor, though there are many 
tracts which only appear so now for the 
want of good husbandry. The roads are 
■very numerous, and the great Mohawk 
turnpike from Albaciy, crosses the river 
at the city where is an elegant wooden 
bridge of 997 feet in length. The whole 
population of this Townsiiip in 1810, was 
5909, when there was 622 electors. The 
population of the 1st Ward, 1406 ; 2d, 
1444; 3d, 1005; 4ih, 2054. The Cor- 
poration, as in Albany, holds a large 
tract of land around the City, and this 
cifcumstance is thought to operate a- 
gainst an inci'case of population. The 
lands can only be leased, for tlie use of 
the Corporate concern, and they are bad- 
ly cultivated. About 20,000 acres are 
still in wood, reserved for fuel, &c., for 
the use of the inhabitants of Schenecta- 
dy. 

The Town or Cirrof Schenectadt, or 
llie site of tlie compact population, i& 
in the S. E. part, on the S. E. side of the 
Mohawk, 15 1-2 miles from Albany. The 
gromid is level and rich, and the plain 
on which the houses stand is washed on 
the W. by the river, beyond which are 
extensive flats under good cultivation, 
the prospect of which is very fine. Oil 
the E. are hills of a moderate height, 
snd the soil a light sand. Tlie Town is 
regularly laid out in sti-eets and squares, 
iind contains about 500 houses, a large 
proportion of which arc of brick ; — 3 
college edifices, the County buildings, 
and 4 houses <"or public worship ; — one 
of whicli is for Presbyterians, one Dutch 
lleformed, one for Methodists, and one 
for Episcopalinns. An elegant wooden 
bridge across the Mohawk, is as orna- 
mental as useful, and it appears to me 
as one of the best bridges in tlie State. 
U is 997 feet in length, of a peculiar jj 



construction, and was built by the justly 
celebrated bridge architect Tbeodorft 
Burr. Schenectady has a bank, and its 
trade is thought by the inhabitants to 
be increasing, though it has no conside- 
rable increase of population. It is situ- 
ated at the foot of navigation on the Mo- 
hawk, from which place there is a port- 
age to Albany. But boat navigation is 
much less employed since the construc- 
tion of turnpikes than formerly, and this 
branch of trade is progressively decreas- 
ing in amount. For a particular account 
of Union College, in this city, see page 
44 ; and there is also a seminary for the 
education of young ladies, besides a' 
competent number of common schools. 
Schenectady is one of the most ancient 
Dutch settlements in this State, and its 
hlstt)ry is intimately connected with that 
of the Colony of New-York. Its early in- 
habitants suffered much from frontier ex- 
posure to the Indians of the W. and North. 
And in Feb., 1690, the whole Town, 
which consisted of 63 houses and a 
church, was wholly destroyed, by a par- 
ty of French and Indians from Canada. 
The inhabitants were taken by surprize, 
and very few escaped. 

E.N.,DT.&S.A.G. 
ScHODAC, a Township in the S. AV. cor- 
ner of the County of Rennselaei", 15 
miles S. of Troi/, and 9 from Albany; 
bounded N. by Greenbush, E by Nassau, 
S. by Columbia Count}', W. by the Hud- 
son or the County of Albany. It com- 
prises an area about equal to 7 miles 
square, and is a pretty good Township 
for farming. The land is of various kinds 
and qualities, with tracts of clay or 
loam, of sand, and there are pretty ex» 
ten.?ive pine plains. The taxable proper- 
ty, as assessed in 1810, amounted ta 
§436,633, when there were 287 senato- 
rial electors. The whole population, by 
the Census of 1810, Avas 3166, including 
184 slaves. A large proi)ortioi\ of the 
inhabitants are of butch origin- Moor- 
denar's kill, and several other small 
streams of the Hudson supply mill-seats ; 
andValletjics kill, a branch of Kinderhook 
creek, runs a short distance in the S. E. 
corner- For a more detailed view of the 
surface, quality of the soil, Ike, see 
GiiEENiirsii and Kixdehiiook, adjoininjj 
Towns on the N- and S. of Schodac. The 
roads are very numerous ; and the turn- 
pike to New-Lebanon Springs, leads se- 
veral miles across the N. E. corner, 
meeting the main post road to New-York 
near the N- line. There are 2 Landings 
on the Hudson, with considerable and 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



29: 



an increasing' amount of trade, where 
are also small villages. Schodac Land- 
ing., is 9 miles below Albany, and Cas- 
tleton 8 miles. The lands are held by 
lease from the Proprietor of the Manor 
of Rensselaer, in which this Town is 
included. B.S.,N.C.T. 

ScHAoHTicoKE,* a Post-Township, in 
the N. W. corner of Rensselaer County, 
oh the E. shore of the Hudson, 10 miles 
N. of Troy, and 20 from Albany ; bound- 
ed N. by Washington County, E. by 
Pittstown, S. by Lansingburgh, W. by 
the Hudson or the County of Saratoga. 
It extends along the Hudson, 11 miles, 
»nd along the line of Washington Coun- 
ty, about 10, in a narrow strip of land 
formed by the course of Hoosac creek. 
The surface is moderately uneven, and 
the soil good for grain and grass. The 
Schaghticoke flats have long been cele- 
brated for their richness and fertility, 
and the uplands have a soil of loam, and 
some clay and sand. Hoosac creek, a 
large mill-stream, receives in this Town 
Tomhanoc creek, and these supply 
abundance of mill-seats At the moutii 
of Hoosac creek, is & small village called 
Schaghticoke-Point, consisting of 15 
houses ; and here is the Post-Office, 20 
miles N of Albany. It is situated in the 
N. \V. corner of the Town : and in the S. 
part, on the Northern turnpike, is ano- 
ther small village called Speigle-Town. 
The Northern turnpike from Lansing- 
burgh to the N. E. part of Washington 
County, and another road of considerable 
travel to Whitehall, lead through this 
Town, besides many other common and 
very good roads- There are 3 houses of 
worship ; 2 Reformed Dutch, and a 
Presbyterian ; and 11 school-houses. — 
There are 12 grain-mills, 11 saw-mills, 
an oil-mill, fulling-mill, and 2 carding- 
machines ; and 2 companies are incor- 
por/ated for manufacturing purposes, one 
for cotton, and the other for linnen, and 
their works are probably in operation 
at this time. The lands are held by 

* This nam'e, so long, crooked aiid hard 
that it Jmzzles every body, is said to have 
originated with the JMohawk Indians. — 
l^he original ivas Scaugh iva7ik, a name by 
them applied to a sand-slide of near 200 
yards elevatioji, extending for a consider- 
able distance along the right bank of Hoo- 
sac creek, under an angle of about 60" 
~Miih the horizon. JVhen the JDiitch settled 
here, they added Hsok to the name of the 
Point, now tailed Schaghticoke-Point. 

D.O.G. 



different tenures, some in fee, some by 
permanent, and some by temporary lea» 
ses. The whole amount of taxable pro- 
perty in 1810, was assessed at §302,493, 
32,294 of which was personal property : 
the whole population 2492, including 94 
slaves, and there were 229 senatorial 
electors. About the commencement of 
the 18th century some German and Dutch, 
families settled on the rich alluvial lands 
of this Town, then occupied by a clan 
of the Mohawk Indians. 

M.S.,D.O.G.&:B.S. 
ScHonAniE, a Post-Township, the ca- 
pital of Schoharie County, 32 miles W. 
of Albany, 22 S. W. from Schenectady, 
and 24 S. of Johnstown; bounded N. by 
Montgomery County, Easterly by Sche- 
nectady and Albany Counties, S. by Mid- 
dleburgh, W. by Carlisle andCobelskill. 
Its area may be near 80 square miles ; 
and it contained in 1810, 3232 inhabit- 
ants, 125 of which were slaves, and 266 
senatorial electors. The Schoharie creek, 
which has furnished a name for this Town 
and County, flows northward toward the 
Mohawk, and receives in this Town Co- 
belskill and Fox creeks. This stream is 
here about 10 rods wide, generally ford- 
able, and the alluvial flats thatemborder 
it are from 1 to 2 miles wide, presenting 
one of the richest soils in America. — 
These flats have been cultivated from 80 
to 100 years, and with little loss of their 
abundant fertility. The first white in- 
habitants were some families of Ger- 
mans and Hollanders, and their descend- 
ants still constitute a large share of the 
present population. Wheat is the prin- 
cipal object of Dutch and German hus- 
bandry ; and its cultivation is, perhaps, 
no where more successful. The average 
produce per acre, is 20 bushels, and this 
crop rarely fails. It is sown in Septem- 
ber, and cut late in July, and what are 
called good farmers, raise annually from 
300 to 1000 bushels. The lands are held 
in fee, and when in high cultivation, are 
valued at 100 to 200 dollars an acre.— 
The Helderberg hills, or mountains as 
they are called, present here also a con- 
siderable altitude, with much broken 
and hilly surface. See Mountains, page 
9. Their base is limestone, variously 
intermixed with sand; and they are 
wooded with oak, maple, ash, and some 
pine. Schoharie had 139 looms in fami- 
lies in 1810, which produced about 32,000 
yards of cloth. There were also 4 full- 
ing-mills, 4 carding-machines, an oil- 
mill, a paper-mill, distillery, nail factory, 
and 4 tanner's works. The public build- 



^H 



GAZET'TEER of NEW-YORE. 



ings are a court-bouse of stone, 3 stories i 
high, a brick church, and one also of 
stone. Tlie latter served as a fortress 
during the Revolutionary war, when 
Schoharie was destroyed by Johnson and 
Brandt, and many of its inhabitants kill- 
ed or led into captivity. There are 2 
small villages in this Town; Schoharie-, 
beautifully situated on the Schoharie 
flats, 8 miles S. of Esperance, and 32 W. 
of Albany, has the County buildings, 2 
churches, about 25 houses, a post-office, 
and 2 school-houses. The houses are 2 
stories high, painted white, and every 
thing indicates plenty and wealth. 

Esperance, is situated in the N. E. part, 
8 miles N. of Schoharie, at the "W. end 
of Schoharie bridge on the Albany and 
Cherry- Valley t\u-npike, 26 miles W. of 
Albany. Here is a Post-Office, called 
Esperance, or Schoharie Bridge r. c, 20 
houses and stores, a paper-mill, and se- 
veral other water-works ; and at the E. 
end of the bridge, which is in Duanes- 
burgh, a grain-mill and saw-mill. This 
is a fine place for business, having the 
advantage of a rapid ih the creek, and 
abundance of water for any extent of 
works. 

I.H.P.,E.C.,&E.H. 

SciiuTLEn, a Township of Herkimer 
County, about 8 miles N. of W. from 
Herkimer, & miles N. E. of Utica, and 
86 from Albany ; bounded N. by New- 
port, E. by Herkimer, S. by iNIohawk ri- 
ver or the Town of Frankfort, W. by 
Oneida County, Its mill-streams are 
some small brooks that fall S. into the 
Mohawk, and several small streams that 
run east to W. Canada Creek. The 
soil is of a good quality, with some hills, 
and there are abundance of springs and 
brooks. It has the Mohawk turnpike 
along that river, where are fine flats, and 
its other roads are sufficiently numerous. 
The taxable property of Schuyler in 
1810, agreeable to the valuation on the 
Supervisors' books, amounted to 163,o46 
dollars, when the whole population was 
2107 ; the number of families 324, and of 
stnaiorial electors 1'24. 

N.T. 

ScnooN, a large Township of Esses 
County, erected in 180*, from Crown- 
I'oint ; — bounded N. by Keene, and Eli- 
y.iibclhtown, E. by Ticonderoga, Crown- 
I'oint, and Moriah ; S. by Washington 
Co., W. by Montgomery County. The 
soil, surface, &c . are so similar to those of 
Keene, as to supersede a repetition of 
detiiil. It is but newly settled, contains 
89 senatorial electors, and about 120 fa- 



milies. Watered by the N. branch of 
Hudson river and its numerous small 
branche.s, it is abundantly irrigated, and 
supplied with numerous sites for mills-. 
Here, also, are mountains, and some of 
great height, as in other parts of the 
County : but there are extensive vallies 
of rich land, well watered and healthy. 
This extensive Township, being about 
30 miles long E. and W., and 19 broad, is 
but lately settled, and those settlements 
are detached. In the western part, the 
settlement called Dominick^ was first 
begun in 1800, lies about 10 miles S. W- 
of the head of Scroon lake, and contains 
a few families, who have 1 saw-mill, a 
grain-mill, and a school-house, in which 
are held the meetings for worship. The 
State Road, from Chester in Washington 
Co., to Canton in St. Lawrence Co., lies 
through this settlement. On this road, 
about 20 miles N. W. from Dominick, 
is a little settlement called Pendleton, 
commenced in 1808, containing 5 or 6 
families, who have a grain and saw-mill. 
Scroon Lake is partly in this Town, and 
ParadoxLake, about 5 miles long, a wa- 
ter of Scroon river, besides sonr»e othev 
small lakes and ponds. There are 8 saw- 
mills, 4 grain-mills, a distillery, &c.— 
Cro-Mii^P'jint Post-Office, established in 
1803, is near the head of Scroon Lake, 
in this Town^ 502 miles from Washing- 
ton. Population, 1810, 689 souls. Tax- 
able property, g65,537. 

S.R.&C.R. 
ScniitA, a Post-Township of Oneida 
County, al the mouth of Oswego river, 
60 miles N. of W. from Home, and 173 
from Albany ; bounded Northerly by 
Lake Ontario, E. by Mexico and Volney, 
S. by Volney, and S. W. by Oswego ri- 
ver, or the Tou n of Hannibal in Onon- 
daga County. It comprises the Town- 
ship of Oswego on tl^ Maps of the Sur- 
veyor-General, and the N. half of Frede- 
ricksburgh. This Town was erected in 

1811, together with Volney, which seejj 
from Fredericksbiu-gh, which was divid- 
ed into these 2 Towns, and lost its name 
in the County. In 1810, when the last 
Census was taken, the whole popidation 
was .S28, and the senatorial electors 11. 
.\bout two thirds of this now probably 
belongs to Seriba ; say about 228 per- 
sons > though well-informed persons 
compute the actual population at 400 in 

1812. The general surface is level, the 
soil pretty good. It has no mill-streams, 
but its advantages for navigation and 
trade are very commanding. Oswe^a 
Fort is in this Town, an ancient fortress. 



GAZEITEER OF NEWYORK. 



29^ 



of much^importance in the early wars. — 
This is one of the military posts surren- 
dered by the British in 1796, conform- 
able to the conditions of Jay's treaty. — 
The Fort is a 3 sided figure, with bas- 
tions, Sec, and contains 3 or 4 acres of 
gTound within the ditches. The site is 
elevated about 50 feet above the level of 
the Lake and Oswego river, and situated 
just at the mouth of the river. The his- 
tory of this fortress is intimately con- 
nected with that of the early settlements 
and wars of the Colony now State of New- 
York. A trading house was established 
here by the Governor of New-York in 
1722, and a fort erected in 1727, rebuilt 
and enlarged in 1755. This, together 
with Fort Ontario, erected on an adjoin- 
ing eminence in 1755, was invested by 
the French under Montcalm in 1756, 
with 3000 men, aided by 2 armed ves- 
sels. Fort Ontario was abandoned af- 
ter the first day of assault, on the 13th 
day of August ; and on the 14th, Oswe- 
go capitulated, with a garrison of 1600 
men. It had then 21 pieces of cannon, 
J4 mortars, and great stores of the mu- 
nitions of war; besides 2 armed sloops 
and 200 boats. These forts were imme- 
diately dismantled, and the French re- 
tired with their booty within their own 
lines. And the settlements on the Mo- 
hawk were soon left entirely exposed. — 
Oswego is in N. Lat. 43° 28', 2^ 34' W. 
Lonif. from New- York. The Oswego ri- 
ver has a strong rapid 1 mile from its 
mouth, where the waters may be taken 
out, at a moderata expense, for mills. 
The Village of Oswego contains about 
30 houses, and the trade of tliis port is 

very considerable and increasing. 

There are 15 schooners, from 15 to 80 
tons burthen, and a great number of 
batteaux of 5 to 12 tons. In 1809, the 
whole amount of property shipped here, 
v/as 535,000 dollars. A village is also 
laid out on the S. shore of Oswego river, 
opposite this place, which is known by 
tlie same name, though in Hannibal, 
Onondaga County. Osivego has a Post- 
Office of the same name, 480 miles from 
Washington, and 178 from Albany.-r- 
Scriba Post-Office was established in 
1812. N.C.,B.W.&S.G. 

Scipio, a Post-Township of Cayuga 
County, li miles S. of Auburn, and 180 
W. of Albany ; bounded N. by Aurelius, 
]E. by Sempronius, S. by Genoa, W. by 
Cayuga Lake or the County of Seneca. — 
it is about 10 miles square, the Town- 
ship of Scipio, in the Military Tract, and 
it iaciudes also a part af the Cayiiga 



Reservation. It is an excellent tract of 
land under good cultivation, and has 2 
Post-Offices ; Scipio and Aurora Post- 
Offices, about 8 miles apart. This is 
one of the most populous and opulent 
farming Towns in the Western country. 
In 1810, the population was 7100, the 
number of families 1104, of senatorial 
electors 468; the taxable property, as 
valued by the Assessors, 205,042 dollars. 
On the E. it is bounded on Owasco Lake 
about 6 miles ; by Cayuga on the W., 
which receives several small streams 
from the western part of this Town, and 
Salmon creek rises in the central and S. 
eastern part, and runs S. through Genoa 
to the Cayuga Lake. These streams 
supply abundance of mill-seats. It has 
2 turnpikes, and numerous common 
roads. 1 he old Cayuga Castle, the re- 
sidence of the Cayuga Indians, is in the 
N. W. corner of this Town, on the shore 
of the lake of the same name. And there 
is a ferry across the Lake between Scipio 
and Romulus. The Post-Village of 
Aurora is finely seated on the lake 
near the centre of the W. line, has a 
flourishing academy, about 50 houses, a 
Post-Office, and a small library. The 
village called Levana, has about 25 hou- 
ses, and is 2 m-les below Aurora. The 
inhabitants of Scipio, like those of the 
western country in general, are princi- 
pally employed in farming ; and their 
agriculture and domestic economy par- 
tSce of the improvements common to the 
more opulent Towns. The Cayuga aca- 
demy in this Town is an eligible situa- 
tion for the education of 3uch youth, as 
are absoi-bed in the grosser pleasures of 
more populous Towns, and the price of 
board in respectable families, is fixed at 
§1. 25 to %1. 75 cents per week. 

N.T.,D.T.,&W.S. 
Sempronius, a Post-Township of Cay- 
uga County, 14 miles S. E. of the Vil- 
lage of Jlubiirn, and 164 N. of W. from 
Albany ; bounded N. by Owasco, and by 
Marcellus in Onondaga County, E. by 
Skeneateles Lake, or bpafford in Onon- 
daga Co., and by Preble in Cortlandt 
Co. ; S.by Locke, W. by Bcipio. TJie sur- 
face is considerably hilly in some parts, 
but the vallies are extensive, and its ar- 
able lands, which form a large propor- 
tion of the wiiulc, are rich and produc- 
tive. The northern part is bounded, on 
the E., by Skeneateles Lake, on the W, 
by Owasco Lake, an inlet of which 
spreads over the southern part, and its 
branches supply abundance of the be?st 
sites for njilb ; and thpre are also j6n<?. 



296 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



mill-seats on other small streams that 
fall into the above Lakes. There are in 
all, a larg'e merchant-mill, 3 grain-mills, 
10 saw-niills, 3 fulling-mills, and some 
similar works. Along the inlet of Owas- 
co above mentioned, is a marsh of 3 
miles long from the head of the Lake, 
and about one mile wide, through which 
flows the creek, and there are other 
small marshes. The Owasco Flats, in 
the S. W. part, are proverbially rich and 
fertile, and the settlement or district 
of that name is one of the handsomest 
in this country. A Village is laid out 
here, and named Jlforavia, by the inha- 
bitants, which contains about 40 families. 
A branch of the inlet, coming from the 
E., falls perpen<licularly near 70 feet, at 
the head of the Owasco Flats, where 
are a grain-mill, a saw-mill, 2 fulling- 
mills, and 2 carding-machines. Seven 
roads meet at the Flats, and there ^re 
numerous common roads in this Town, 
but none of any great travel. There are 
10 school-houses. About 1794, when the 
settlements first commenced, there re- 
mained some Indians at the Flats, a fa- 
vorite position, long since abandoned to 
their more fortunate successors. In 
1810, the population was 3137, the whole 
number of families 516, of senatorial e- 
lectors 322 J and the taxable property 
amounted to §114,878; the taxable in- 
habitants 402. There is a small library 
in the Village of Moravia, recently es- 
tablished. And about one mile from 
Moravia is the Village of Montville, where 
are several mills and about 20 houses. 
—Its situation is much admired, and 
tljough iiself on a hill, is surrounded by 
many others of greater height. Tlicse 
vil'ages are rapidly increasing in popu- 
lation and business- 

W.S.&A. 
St^fECA, a Township in the E. part of 
Ontario County, in which is the Village 
of Geneva, with a I'ofjt-OJice of the same 
name, 192 miles W. of Albany ; bound- 
ed N. by I'heips, E. by Seneca l.ukenad 
County, t. by Benton, W. by Gorham 
and a part of Middlesex. It is 12 miles 
long N. and S., and about 7 1-2 miles 
wide, exclusive of the waters of Seneca 
Jjake, and is 12 miles easterly of Cana7i- 
daigua, having the great road from Al- 
bany to Niagara across the N. end. It 
is an excellent Township of land, tlie 
southern part moderately uneven or hil- 
\y ; but arable throughout, with line 
grazing lands. Its waters are small and! 
inconsiderable, c.\ccpt that it embraces [ 
a nart of Seneca Lake. BvU the hvm- \ 



lands are ridh and productive, and have 
given to their occupants a high degree 
of wealth. The whole population in 
1810, amounted to 3431 persons, when 
there were 588 families, 317 electors, 
and about 1100 taxable inhabitants. — 
There were also 108 looms in families, 
which produced 37,949 yards of cloth, 
Geneva, a handsome, flourishing, and 
populous Post-Village, is finely seated 
on the W. shore, just at the N. end of 
Seneca Lake, near the N. E. corner of 
this Town, 16 miles E. of Canandaigua, 
and 192 W. of Albany. It commands 
a fine view of the Lake, here near three 
miles wide, and its waters pure and lim- 
pid. There are 130 houses and stores, 
several elegant mansions, an Episcopal, 
a Dutch Reformed, and a Presbyterian 
church, 4 school-houses, 3 apothecaries' 
shops, a printing-office, and 736 inhabi- 
tants, in 1810. The mercantile business 
is said to exceed in amount that of Ca- 
nandaigua, the capital of the County.— ■ 
The outlet of Seneca Lake is at all times 
boatable to Seneca Falls, 9 miles below 
Geneva. An extensive glass factory has 
been lately erected on the \V- shore of 
the I^ake, 2 miles S. of Geneva, with a 
capital of §100,000. Rough stones for 
building, cost in Geneva from 4 to 6 
shillings a ton only. At this spot was 
an Indian Town built by a part of the 
Seneca tribe, and called Canadesaga, op 
New Town. This tribe seems to have 
been very numerous, and there are ex- 
tant many evidences that it was once 
powerful also. \ Town was also erects 
ed by a part of this division at Canandai- 
gua, which see. 

W.T.,J.C.S.&E.W. 
Shelter Islind, a Township of Suffolk 
County, near the E. end of Long-Island, 
100 miles a little N. of E. from New- 
York, and 260 from Albany. Shelter Isl- 
and, which gives its name to this Town, 
and which, with Great-Hog-Neck Island, 
constitute the Township, is situated in 
the Bay' that separates Southold from 
Southampton, and is separated from Gar- 
diner's Island by (iardiner's Bay. 'Ihis 
Island contains about 8000 acres, and 
has 50 dwellings. Its surface is consid- 
erably hilly, the soil light and sandy, 
though some part is levei, rich land, in, 
a high state of cultivation. Its shores, 
are indented witli several creeks, or 
small bays, and there are fine situations 
for building, on projecting high points of 
land, that command elegant and pictur- 
esque views. The seat of General De- 
ring, on th,: N. sidC;. is much admired. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



297 



From Shelter Island to Southold, there 
is aferry of only 120 rods. To Hog-Neck- 
Island is about half a mile. And there is 
a good ship channel all round the Island. 
Its fish are the same as those enumerat- 
ed under Southold, and they are used in 
the same way. There is one Presbyte- 
rian meeting-house, and a school-house. 
During the Revolutionary war, this Isl- 
and was stripped of its wood by the Bri- 
tlsli, for the use of their navy, and for 
the troops in New- York and Newport. 
Great-Hog-JVeck Island, lies S. of this, 
is about 3 1-2 miles in length, and forms 
part of the Town of Slielter Island. The 
whole population in 1810, was 329, in- 
cluding 8 slaves, and there were also 29 
electors ; taxable property, @80,240. 
T.S.L.,J.F.&J.D. 

Shandakett, or Shandakan, a Post- 
Township in the N. W. extremity of 
Ulster County, 15 to 40 rniles W. of 
Kingston ,■ bounded on the N. by Greene 
County, E. by Woodstock, Marbletown 
and Rochester, Southerly by Sullivan 
County, Westerly by Delaware County. 
It is 20 miles long from N. E. to S. W., 
and 12 miles wide. It is a mountainous 
tract, but thinly inhabited, and the 
lands are held by lease, principally for 
3 lives. The Ulster and Delaware turn- 
pike leads through it to Delaware Coun- 
ty. In 1810j there were 57 looms in fa- 
milies, which made 12,215 j'ards of cloth 
for common clothing, and the whole po- 
pulation was 1002 persons, with 52 elec- 
tors. This Town sends many sniall 
streams to the Delaware river, throug'h 
various channels, and several also to tlie 
Hudson through Esopus creek, which 
^ises in this Town. It lies about mid- 
way between the Delaware and the Hud- 
son. C.T. 

Shawangunk, a Post-Township of Ul- 
ster County, 26 miles S. Westerly from 
JKingston, 17 N. of W. from Newburgh, 
and 91 from Albany ; bounded on the 
N. "W. by Wawarsing, N, by New-Paltz, 
E. by Plattekill, S. by Montgomery in 
Orange County, W by Sullivan County. 
The W. extremity ranges along the S.E. 
base of the Shawangunk mountain, a 
principal ridge of the Apallachian chain. 
It is well watered by small brooks and 
springs, and there are 2 fine large mill- 
streams. Shawangunk creek in the W., 
and Wallkill in the E., which unite near 
the N. line, and pass N. E. to the Hud- 
son near Kingston Village., The Wall- 
kill is here 18 to 20 rods wide, and the 
Shawangunk 6 to 8. The surface of this 
Town is but very moderately luieven, 



and much of it is quite level. The soil 
is principally a strong and durable loam, 
and there are many tracts of clay or ar- 
gillaceous mold. Stones are scarce, and 
the timber is principally oak, of many 
varieties, with walnut, &c. It is a good 
farming Township, and its improvements 
are in the durable style of Dutch and 
German economy. There are 2 Dwtck 
Reformed churches, 10 school-houses ; — 
9 corn-mills, lA saw-mills, 2 fulling- 
mills, four carding-machines, and some 
other water works. The lands are held 
in fee of the occupants ; and there are 
200 looms in families, which produce 
yeai-ly about 45,000 yards of cloth for 
common clothing. Newburgh, on the 
Hudson, is the principal market Town. 
The whole population in 1810 was 3062, 
when there were "171 electors. Shawan- 
gunk is the Indian name for the tract W. 
of the creek to the Mountain ; as is Pe- 
conasink that of a tract in the S. W., 
which still retain these names among 
the inhabitants. Shawan, in the lan- 
guage of the Mohegan Indians, signifies 
White, and also Salt ; and Gunk, a large 
Rock or pile of rocks. Shawangunk, 
therefore, is said to have been applied 
by them to a precipice of white rocks of 
the mill-stone kind, near the top of these 
mountains, and facing the east. The 
first settlement by Europeans was in 
1686, akng the Shawangunk creek ; and 
much of the lands are now in possession 
of the lineal descendants of the first set- 
tlers, descended to the fourth genera- 
tion. This tract has been known by its 
present name since Dec. 17, 1743, when 
it was first erected into a Precinct un- 
der the Colonial government. The Eso- 
pus mill-stones have a high reputation, 
and are extensively used in most parts 
of the United States. They are taken 
from the Shawangunk mountain, in this 
and the adjoining Towns. 

J.B.&C.T. 
Sharon, a Post-Township in the N.W. 
corner of Schoharie County, 16 miles W. 
of Schoharie, and 45 from Albany ; boun- 
ded N. by Canajoharie in Montgomery 
County, E. by Carlisle and Cobclskill, W« 
by Otsego County. This Town has some 
broken and waste lands, and like the 
other Towns in this County, has some 
ridges that belong to the Helderbergs, 
or Helderberg hills, though here lessen- 
ed down to moderate swells. The soil 
is good for all the common products of 
agriculture, and its choice lands have 
been celebrated for wheat from 80 to 
near J.00 years- Cobelskill, a large 



298 



GAZETFEER OF NEW-YORK. 



branch of Schoharie creek, rises in this 
Town, and supplies many mill-seats. — 
There are 4 carding-machines, 2 fuUing- 
snills ; 152 looms in fiimilies, and these 
produced near 40,000 yards of cloth in 
1810; — there were also 2 cut-nail facto- 
ries, and .3 tanner's works* The who'e 
population in 1810 was 3751, 41 of which 
were slaves, and there were 324 senato- 
rial electors. The Great Western turn- 
pike from Albany to Ciierry-Valley leads 
across the N. part of this Town ; and 
there is also a turnpike from this to A- 
thens on the Hudson. The inhabitants 
are principally Germans, or of German 
origin, the descendants of those who set- 
tled here at a very early period. 

N.T.&EH. 

SiiEHBTTRNE, a Post-Townsliip of Che- 
nango County, 11 miles N. of Norwich, 
and 98 miles VV. of Albany, on the West- 
ern turnpike by Cherry-Valley and Coop- 
erstown ; bounded N. by Hamilton in 
Madison County, E. by Columbus, S. by 
Norwich, W. by Smyrna. It is 6^ miles 
square, being Township No. S of the 20 
Townships. Tiiis Town is well watered 
lay Chenango creek or river of the Sus- 
quehanna, whicli rises in Madison Coun- 
ty, and runs centrally S. through this 
Town, receiving many small branches 
which spread over every part. Along 
this stream are fine alluvial flats, rich 
and fertile. Tlie whole may be called 
an excellent Township of land, good for 
grain and grass, with every product <:om- 
Hion to this climate. There are 2 houses 
of worship for Congregationalists, situ- 
ated on opposite sides of the river, 1 1-2 
ynile apart, and 14 school-houses. There 
are 5 grain-mills, 10 saw.-mills, 2 fulling- 
jnills, 2 carding-machines, an oil-mill, a 
printing-office, 3 distilleries, a brewery, 
nail factory, 3 tanners' works, 4 pot-ash 
vorks, 5 stores, 10 taverns, and 5 black- 
smiths. In 181G, the whole population 
was 2428, with 29S electors, and Sl47,- 
€99 of taxable property. A turnpike 
from Oxford to Utica extends along the 
Chenango river, and at the intersection 
of this with the other turnpike from 
Cooperstown, stands the handsome Vil- 
lage of Shei-burne, which has about 40 
houses. This is on the E. side of the 
river, 33 miles S. W. of Utica. In the 
W. part of the Town is another little 
village of 15 houses, but I know not if it 
be known by any name. 

.l.E.,J.W.B.&J.N. 

SiiKLDON, a Post-Township in the S.W. 
corner of (ienesee County, 20 miles S. 
WXsttrl.y from Jiatavicu and 2/0 from 



Albany ; bounded N. by Batavia, E. by 
4ttica, S. by Cataraugus County, W. by 
Niagara County. This Town comprises 
8 Townships of the Holland Company's 
purchase ; Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, in the 3d and 
4th Ranges. It is watered by numerous 
streams that run W to L. Erie, and Ni- 
agara river. Tonnewanta creek courses 
N. along the E. line, the Cayuga and 
middle branches of Buffalo creek spread 
over the centre, and Cataraugus creek 
runs W. across the S. end. It is a good 
tract of land, and presents of course a 
great diversity of soil. The whole po- 
pulation in 1810, was 1415, when there 
were 235 senatorial electors ; and the 
taxable property, as valued by the As- 
sessors, amounted to g221,850. This 
Town was divided in 1811, and Attica 
erected from the E. part. 

N.C.T.&R.S. 

Sidney, a Post-Township of Delaware 
County, 25 miles W. of Uelhi, 95 or 104 
S. W. of Albany, and 90 or 94 W. of 
Cat skill ; bounded on the N. W. by Sus- 
quehanna river, E. by Franklin, South- 
erly by Masonville, erected from this 
Town in 1811. The population of Sid- 
ney in 1810 was 1388, with 243 families, 
99 senatorial electors, and §136,937 of 
taxable property. There were also one 
meeting-house, and 6 school-liouses, with 
several mills, a distillery, &c. But what 
part of the population, with the im- 
provements, belong to Masonville, I 
am not precisely informed, and conjec- 
jecture is vague and wild. Tlie Susque- 
hanna river forms the boundary on the 
N. W., and Ouleoiit creek crosses the 
N. E. corner to that river. Along these 
streams are flats, but the general sur- 
face is broken by hil!s and vallies, co- 
vered with a heavy growth of maple, 
beech, hemlock. Sec, common to this 
country. The inhabitants are principal- 
ly farmers, but much time is employed 
in the lumber trade. A turnpike from 
Newbui gh to Oxford, leads through this 
Town, and tjiere are other roads that 
connect with the numerous turnpikes 
that surround it. 

N.C.,O.P.&C.G. 

Smitu-Town, or Smitu, a Post-Town- 
ship of Suffolk County, on the N. side 
of Long or Nassau-Island, 53 miles E. of 
New-York, and 213 from Albany ; bound- 
ed N. by Long-Island Sound, E. by Brook- 
haven, S. by Islip, W. by Huntington, 
The soil, suriiice, &c., of the adjoining 
Townships, are so minutely described, 
as to su])ersede the necessity of a repe- 
tition in Um df:sf!'ipti-3!i. There b «. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW YORK. 



299 



small pond in the S., which discharges 
a small mill-stream that runs N. to the 
Sound ; and there are in this Town 4 
grain-mills, a fulling-mill and a carding- 
machine. There are 14 vessels employ- 
ed principally in the trade with New- 
York, of 30 to 100 tons burthen. Near 
the centre is a small village called the 
Branch, or Branch Village, where is a 
Presbyterian Church, a school-house and 
the Post-Office. Another small vilhige is 
usually called the River, or River Vil- 
lage, where are some mills. In 1810, 
the taxable personal property amounted 
to §48,150, and the aggregate of real 
and personal, to §374,209; when there 
w^ere 136 electors ; and the whole popu- 
lation was 1592, including 74 slaves. 
R.S.,W.S.H.,J.D.&J.F. 

SjiiTHvrtLE, a Township of Chenango 
County, 13 miles S. W. of JVoriuich, e- 
rected from a part of Greene in 1808 ; 
bounded N. by IP'reston, E. by Oxford, S. 
by Coventry, W. by Greene. It is water- 
ed by Chenango river and several of its 
branches, which supply mill-seats in 
great abundance. The land is of a good 
quality, and the Township is called a 
good one for farming. The taxable pro- 
perty assessed in 1810 amounted to 
§64,293, when there were 43 electors. 
The whole population, 995. There are 
several roads that lead through this 
Town. The inhabitants manufacture 
the most of their clothing in the hous- 
hold way. 

N.T.&.J.N. 

Smithfielb, a Township of Madison 
County, bounded N. by Lenox, E. by Au- 
gusta in Oneida County, S. by Eaton 
and Nelson, W. by Cazenovia. It was 
erected in 1807, from Cazenovia, and is 
about 12 miles E. and W., and 5 N. and 
S. The principal part of this tract was 
leased of the Oneida Indians, b)' Peter 
Smith, in 1794, and purchased by the 
state in 1795. The soil is of a veiy su- 
perior quality, and the whole tract may 
be pronounced one of the best in the 
state. It is abundantly irrigated by small 
streams, the sources of Oneida creek, 
Cowasselon, Canaseraga and Chittenin- 
go, waters of Oneida Lake ; and also that 
of the main branch of Chenan-;() river, 
a large branch of the Susquehanna. This 
Town is principally settled by emigrants 
from the Eastern States. It comprises 
the largest part of the tract called New- 
Petersburgh. The population in 1810, 
2651 ; 438 heads of families ; 2 slaves. 
The taxable property, agreeable to the 
valuation on the Supervisors' books, 



§124,308 ; senatorial electors, 193. Pe^ 
terboro' is the principal village, situated 
on the Oneida turnpike road and creek, 
29 miles S. westerly of Utica, and 122 
N. of W. from Albany. N. Lat. 42" 57 \ 
Long. 1" 37' W. of New-York. Here is 
a Post-Office of the same name, 470 
miles from Washington, a printing-office 
which publishes a weekly paper, an ar- 
senal, a public library, several stores 
and houses, grain and saw-mills, distil- 
leries, carding and clothier's works, &c. 
The Madison Manufacturing Associa- 
tion are erecting extensive glass works, 
and cotton and woollen manufactories. 
The situation is pleasant and healthy, 
the soil fertile ; materials for building 
are at hand, and the Oneida creek af- 
fords some facilities for hydraulic works. 

E.P. 

Smthna, a Post-Township of Chenan- 
go County, 10 miles N. a little AV. of 
J\/'oi'7vich, and 105 miles W. of Albany ; 
bounded N. by Lebanon in Madison Co., 
E, by Sherburne, S. by Plymouth, W. by 
German. It is 6 miles square, being 
Township No. 8, as designated on the 
Maps of the Surveyor-General. Its wa- 
ters are small, but a branch of Chenan- 
go river or creek spreads over the N. E- 
corner, and affords fine mill-seats, but 
the lands of this part are broken and 
hilly. On these streams are one or 2 
grain-mills, 4 saw-mills, a fulling-mill, 
and a small furnace for castings of iron. 
Though the surface is uneven in general, 
the vallies, of very considerable extent, 
are rich and productive ; and much of 
the hilly land is either arable, fit for 
meadow, or good for grazing. Hemp is 
cultivated on the rich mold of the val- 
lies, a plant that requires a very strong 
soil, and will soon exb.aust the best. — 
The timber is principally maple, beech, 
elm, basswood and hemlock. About 
|ihs of this Town is owned by the heirs 
of John Lawrence, late of New-York ; 
and about half of the whole is nov/ in- 
cluded in farms. The first settler here 
was Joseph Porter, in the year 1792, 
and a post-office was establislied in 1808. 
The great Western turnpike from Cher- 
ry-Valley by Cooperstown to Cortlandt 
County, leads across the N. part of SmjT- 
na. In 1810, the whole population was 
1344, with 93 senatorial electors, 161 
taxable inhabitants, and §104,281 of 
taxable property. There are 2 distille- 
ries, and 3 or 4 school-houses. 

J.N.,S.G.&J.E. 

Sonrs, a large Township in the N. E. 
owner of Ontario County, with a Post- 



30d 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Office called Trovpville; bounded N. by 
Lake Ontario, E. by Seneca County, S. 
by Lyons, \V. by AVilliamson and Palmy- 
ra. Sodus includes No. 14, and 4 miles 
of the N. end of No. 13, in the 1st 
Rang« of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, 
and all that part of the gore of land be- 
tween the old and new pre-emption lines 
that adjoins this tract on the east. It 
is about 18 miles square, and includes 
part of Great Sodua bay. The surface 
is almost wholly undulated with hillocks 
and vallics, in a N. and S. direction, and 
Ihe soil is good and well watered. The 
timber is luxuriant, and consists of the 
ticer sacchnrinupiy or sugar-maple, beech, 
oak, hickory, elm, ash, linden or bass- 
wooil, cherry, the tulip tree or poplar, 
butternut, he. Crops of wheat, rye, 
maize, hemp, fla.'c, oats, and tlie common 
grasses, are little liable to Injury by 
«h-outh, and succeed well, as do the 
iVuits common to the country. In the 
N. E. corner of Sodus is Great Sodus 
bay, reckoned the best harbor on the S. 
shore of the Ontario ; and on an elevat- 
ed point of land, projecting into the bay, 
Ihe Post-Village ot Troupville is hand- 
somely and very eligibly situated, 212 
miles from Albany, and about 30 IV.E. of 
Canandaigua, Salmon creek, running 
through the N. part of this Town, en- 
ters the Lake about 2 miles S. from 
Troupville, and affords good mill-seats, 
several of which are now impi'oved. — 
Sodus has 2 gristmills, 5 saw-mills, one 
fulling-mill, and a considerable number 
of the common mechanical branches for 
the convenience of the inhabitants. — 
There are 2 meetmg-houses ; one for 
Presbyterians and one for Baptists ; and 
se%'eral school-houses, iron-ore, of a 
good quality, has been found here, but 
no iron works are yet erected. The first 
settlcmems in this Town commenced in 
J 790, by 2 German families from the 
Mohawk river ; but the progress of po- 
pulation was slow for rwany years. In 
1801, there were 66 senatorial electors. 
In 1807, 206 in all. In 1810, 62 senato- 
rial electors, and the whole number of 
souls computed at 1800. The settlers 
are from all pai-ts of the V. States, and 
generally purchase the right of soil. — 
Population, by the Census of 1810, 1957, 
and there were 343 families. 

E.P. 
SotoTT, a Post-Township of Cortlandt 
County, 10 miles E. of Homer, and 132 
miles "W. of Albany; bounded N. by 
Truxton, E. by Chenango tJounty, S. by 
Clncmuaius, Sv. by Homer. It Is 10 



miles square, being the Military Town- 
ship of So'on, and is an excellent tract 
of land. The Tioughnioga creek cross- 
es the N.W. corner into Homer, and has 
some small branches that supply some 
mill-seats. Otselic creek just crosses 
the S. E. corner into Cincinnatus. The 
g'eneral description is similar to that of 
Cincinnatus, though it has a greater di- 
versity of soil, and much less advantages 
of water. The timber is maple, beech, 
elm, ash, butternut, bass, and some pine 
and hemlock. The soil is principally a 
warm gravelly loam, well adapted for 
farming. The inhabitants are farmers, 
and their houshold manufactures are ve- 
r}' respectable in quality and amount^ 
though their settlements are compara- 
tively new. The taxable property in 
1810, S99,612 ; when the population was 
696 males, and 574 females, total 1270.. 
persons ; and there are 110 senatorial! 
electors. There are roads in various di-1 
rections, in good order and pretty ex- 
tensively travelled. Great numbers of 
lean cattle are driven every year to Phi- 
ladelphia, W.Chester and Duchess Coun- 
ties. J.B. 

SoMEiis, a Post-Township on the N. 
line of Westchester County, 50 miles 
N. of New- Turk, and 120 from Albany; 
bounded N. by Duchess County, E. by 
North-Salem and South-Salem, S. by 
Bedford and NeW'-Castle, W. by York 
or Yorktov.n. Its name was formerly 
Steplienlown, changed in 1808. Croton 
creek or river forms its eastern bounda- 
ry, and there are also some branches 
til at afford mill-seats. There are 4 grain- 
mills, 5 or 6 saw-mills, 2 fulling-mills, 
a paper-mill, and several fine sites still 
imoccupied. In general, the soil of this 
Town is very good, calculated to pro- 
duce a great variety of agricultural pro- 
ducts. The Croton turnpike runs thro' 
this Tov.n, and on iliis, about 1 1-2 
mile from the N. line, is the pleasant 
VUlage of Soiiters. Here is a printing es- 
tablishment which issues a weekly pa- 
]3er, tlie Post-Office, and a small collec- 
tion of houses. 'I'his Village is the prin- 
cipal market of lean stock of cattle and 
sheep, brought hither from various and 
distant parts of tlie country, to sujjply 
the wants occasioned by the sales of fat- 
tened cattle and sheep to the Butchers 
of New-York. 'i"he farmers of this Coim - 
try carry on an extensive traffic in this 
way, and droves are annually and almost 
constantly arriving from the inland re- 
gions, some from 100, 200 and 300 miles, 
\<> replace the consumption, In 1810/^ 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



301 



there were 221 taxable inhabitants, 142 
electors, and a whole population of 1782 
persons ; the taxable property, 339,717 
dollars. 

D.C.&S.D. 
Southampton, a Post-Township of 
Suffolk County, on the S. side of Long- 
Island, 100 miles E. of New-York, and 
260 from Albany ; bounded N. by River- 
head and Soulhold, E. by Easthamplon, 
S. by the Atlantic Ocean, V/. by Brook- 
haven. On ^e N., this Town is bound- 
ed by Peconir river and bay, witji the 
connection of bays that separate the E. 
end of Long-Island into 2 parts ; and has 
Sag:g--harbor, the metropolis of this Co., 
in the N. E. corner. Its length E. and 
W may be 23 miles, with a medial width 
of near 4 1-2 miles. The soil is light 
and sandy in tiie W. and N., but good 
and fertile in the S. and E. It is well 
wooded with pine, oak, walnut, &c., and 
sends large quantities of cord-wood to 
New- York for fuel. The lands require 
manure, but being well managed, yield 
pretty good crops of grain and grass. — 
Fish are much used for manure. In 1810, 
^he whole population was 3899, includ- 
ing 61 slaves ; and there were also 475 
electors ; — ta.xable property, §632,210. 
SAKG-IlARBon, in the N.E. corner of this 
Township, is a Port of Entry, and a place 
of very considerable trade. It is situat- 
ed on the great bay that di- ides the E. 
end of Long-Island into 2 parts, about 
100 miles E. of the City of New- York, 
and has a good and sectire harbor. In 
1810, the tonnage of this port, agreeable 
to the books of registry at Washington, 
was almost 5000 tons. Several vessels 
are employed in the whale fishery, prin- 
cipally on the coast of Patagonia, and 
considerable business is also done in the 
cod fisheries of Newfoundland and else- 
where. There are at Sagg-harbor about 
80 houses, and there is also a Post-Oftice 
of ihe same name, i his Township still 
affords many of the wild deer, and like 
the other Towns of this region, is the 
resort of a great variety and abundance 
of water-fowl. Its extent and unequal 
population have given rise to locai 
names, by which the several parts are 
commonly designated : — as Sagg-Huruor, 
JVest-Uamp'on, Soulhtimpton and Brldi^e- 
Hamptu7i, in each of which is a Post-Ot 
rice of tiie same name, and there is .uiu 
ther also called Canoe-Flace, making 6 
Post-Ofiices iu this Town. 

A.R,D.n.,.LF&.T.D. 
SouTHOLD, or South-Hoid, a Post 
Township ol Sufiblk Coiuity, comprising 



the N. E. part of Long-Island ; boimded 
N. by Long-Island Sound, Southerly by 
the waters that separate it from the 
Towns of East-Hampton and Southamp- 
ton, W. by Riverhead. The E. end of 
Long-Island is divided by a large bay, 
or by a connexion of several bays, into 
2 branches ; and Southold comprises al- 
most the who'e of the N branch, be- 
sides many small islands within, and the 
B.i)s and the Sound. Its extent from 
W. to E., where it terminates in a point, 
exclusive of the Islands, is 22 miles, and 
its greatest width 3 miles. The Islands 
attached to Southold are FlwAb, Great 
and Little Gull, Fisher's and Ram Isl" 
ands, in the Sound ; and Robin's Island, 
in the Bay. Excepting a few plaoes on 
the N., the land is very level and free 
from stone ; the soil various ; in some 
places a heavy loam, in others sandy, 
but generally a soil of loam, variously 
intermixed with sand, producing good 
crops of wheat, rye, oats, maize, barley 
and flax. Hay is also raised for expor- 
tation. Fish are taken in great abun- 
dance, such as sea bass, black fish, 
sheep's head, f;c. ; and those called shad, 
or, by the inhabitants here, mnssbonk- 
ers, have been a source of much wealth 
for 20 years past, both for exportation, 
pickled, and as a manure on land. — 
240,000 of these have been taken at one 
draught of the seine, and from 8 to 
10,000 are used on an acre of the poorest 
land, when tilled for a crop of wiieat. — 
In 1810, the population of Southold was 
261o, including 30 slaves, and there were 
306 electors ; taxable property, 401,300 
dollars. Tlieie are a number of villages 
known by local names. Leaving River- 
head, going eastward, we come to a 
street of 4 miles in length, calied Mat- 
tatucy where is a Fost-Office of the same 
name, a Presbyterian church, a school- 
house, and about 60 families, Cutcho'nie, 
IS of the same extent, population, and 
iias also a meeting-house and school- 
iiouse ; SocTiiOLD Town, or the central 
Village, has a street 5 miles long, where 
IS the Post-Office, a meeting-house and 
2 school-houses, with 160 families. The 
h)Uses are principally old, without paint 
and poor. This place is about 100 miles 
i.. of Ncvv-Yoi-k, and 26o from Albany. 
E. of this is /Sierling, which extends 4 
miles, and iias 60 families ; — Oyster' 
Fonds Village is. sltu;-.ted near the E. 
.;xtremity of tlie E. branch of Long-Isl- 
ti'.d, 115 miles £. of Nr w-York, and is 5 
miies long, conueo'ed with tlie wider 
part by a narrow beach of one mile in 
39 



302 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



length. Here are 70 families, a meeting- 1 
house and 2 school-houses. Plumb Isl- 
and lies E. of Oyster-pond point. Sepa- 
rated by Plimib Island Gut of one mile 
wide ; it i» 3 miles long and one wide, 
containing 10 families. The land is very 
Stony, and produces no wood, except in 
a sniall pine swamp. The Gull Islands 
are very small, and lie 3 miles E. of 
Plumb Island. The larg.-st contains 14, 
the other only one acre, both owned by 
the iJnited States, on the smallest of 
which is a Light-House. They are a 
mere mass of rocks. Fisher^s Island lies 
about 6 miles N. E. of the Gulls, is 12 
miles long, medial width one mile. Its 
surface is hilly and broken, but being 
owned in one farm, by \Vm. Winthrop, 
Esq., it is rendered of considerable va- 
lue, and its dairy is very fine. Ram Isl- 
and is situated at the mouth of Mystic 
l-iver of Connecticut, and contains 10 or 
12 acres of indifferent land. Robin's 
Island is situated in the bay between 
Southold and Southampton, opposite 
Cutchogue, and contains about 400 acres 
of light sandy land. It was owned by 
llie late E. L'Hommedieu, Esq. — The 
ancient Indian name 6f this Town was 
Yeconnecock, and it was first settled in 
1640; and until the year 1?92, it also 
included the present Ib'^n of Riverhead. 
This settlement was attached to the Co- 
lony of New-Haven, and only seceded 
from that in consequence of tlie rigor cf 
its ecclesiastical regulations, iil the year 
1674, when it came under the protection 
of New-Yok. The titles to lands .are 
derived from fair purchases of the In- 
dians, made in, or prior to, Decenvber 
1665. " The present inh.abitauts retain 
the manners and customs of their ances- 
tors, with the same reverence for reli- 
gion, and sober habits ; — fraud is seldom 
practised, and a law-suit is almost as 
rare as an earthquake." 

T.S.L.,J.D.SiJ.F. 
SotTTH-EAST, a Post-Township in the 
S.E. corner of Duchess County, 18 miles 
E. of 'VVest-Point ; its extent about 6 
miles square ; bounded on the S. by the 
Cotmty of Westchester, E. by the State 
of Connecticut, N. by the ToWn of Pat- 
terson, and on the W. by the Town of 
Carmel. The face of the country is ra- 
ther mountainous and hilly, but the soil 
JS pretty good in general, and very natu- 
ral to grass. It is well watered, and af- 
fords pretty good crops ©rthe common 
kinds of grain and fruit. Iron-ore of a 
gooil quality abounds here. And the 
Croton river, wliich runs through this 



Town, affords excellent mill-seats. ■ 

There are 7 grist-mills, 3 saw-mills, one 
oil-mill 1 paper-mill, 1 sumac-mill; — 
and there are 2 distilleries on this 
stream. — Joe^s-IIill, a high and romantic 
hill or mountain, lies near the centre of 
this Town, and extends several miles 
into Connecticut. There are 5 natural 
ponds, the largest of which is that called. 
Peach pond, about 2 miles long, and 1 
wide. There is one meeting-house.— 
Population, 1887, with 161 electors.— 
The taxable property was^lued in IBIO* 
at 55211,833. The sheep and cattle a- 
mount to 4328 ; and the looms in fami- 
lies produce 21,000 yards of cloth. 

C.R.,&D.H. 
South-Sai-em, a Post -Township of 
Westchester County. 50 miles from New- 
York, and 6 from Bedford ; bounded N, 
by North-Salem, E. by the State of Con- 
necticut, S. by Connecticut, and the 
Towns of Poundridge and Bedford, W. 
by Somers. Its form is irregular, as the 
way of one going from the ale-house. Ira 
the \y., it extendi to Croton creek or 
river, and there are some small ponds in 
the east. Its surface, soil and products, 
are so similar to those of Bedford, mi- 
nutely described, as to supersede the 
necessity of separate detail. It includes 
7 miles in length of the S. end of the 
tract called the Oblong, and the whole 
may be called a good larraing country. 
There is very little for local detail in 
this Township. In 1810, there were 254 
taxable inhabitants, 186 electors, and 
the whole populatiort was 156$^ ; — the 
taxable property, as valued on the Su. 
pervisors' books, §229,651. This Town 
was formerly called Salem, and its name 
was altered in 1808. The inhabitants 
manufacture the most of their common 
clothing in the houshold way. The P. 
Office in this Town was established in 
March, 1813. 

N.T.&S.D. 
SovniFiELi), a Township, and the ca- 
pital of Richmond County, on the S- 
side of Staten-Island, 12 miles S. of N. 
York ; bounded Easterly by the Narrows, 
S. Easterly bv the Atlantic Ocean, West- 
erly by Westfield and Castletown; em- 
\ bracing an extent along the sea and at 
the Narrows of about 10 mi'es in length. 
The land is of various qualities, and the 
surface diversified. The S part is level, 
and good for farming. Here is a tract 
of natural meadow, around the Great 
Kills, being a small bay, noted for its 
clams. There is a very extensive shad 
fishei-y at the Narrows on the E., withii* 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



303 



half a mile of which is the place called 
Old Town, which was fortified for de- 
fence against the Indians, by the early 
inhabitants. The roads are very nume- 
rous, and they form the western bounda- 
, ry. . In the W. is the Village of Rich- 
mond, wliere are held the Courts for the [ 
County. It contains 2 clxurches, a court- 
house and prison, and about 15 houses. 
Sloops come up the Fresh kills from the 
Sound on the W., to within a quarter 
mi'e of this Village. The whole popu- 
lation of this Town in 1810 was lOOT, 
with 97 electors. Tlie JYarro^vs on the 
E., between Staten and Long-Islands, 
leave an opening for the united wa- 
ters of the Hudson and East rivers to 
communicate with the Ocean, of 1905 
yards in width. And here, just on the 
W. shore, are erected the various mUi- 
tary works, designed for the protection of 
the trade of New-York, and for military 
detences against naval foes These con- 
sist of several Forts and Batteries, e- 
rected by this State since 1807, at the 
great expense of §124,930, including' 
7530 dollars, paid for the ground. Fort 
Bichmond is the principal work, situat- 
ed just at the water's edge, at the nar- 
rowest point of the passage between 
Staten and Long-Islands, 8 miles in a di- 
rect line below I^ew-York. This is a 
jitrong work of stone, well supplied with 
all the various apparatus and means of 
defensive warfare. Directly in the rear 
of this, and on a considerable .elevation, 
is Fort Tompkins ; and Fort Hudson is 
situated a short distance on the right of 
Fort Richmond. Here are barracks al- 
so, with other houses and buildings com- 
monly connected with an establishment 
of this kind. A Correspondent lately 
writes me that a new Fort is now build- 
ing, which has not yet received a name. 
These works ha.ve been erected by this 
State.,* under very liberal appropria- 
tions, at a time of great alarm and 
threatened danger ; and when the Gene- 
ral Government was also making great 
exertions to put the principal sea-port 
Towns in a state for defence. For a ge- 
neral view of all these works, within 
and near the Port of New^York, see 
page 249. The Telegraph, for speedy 
communication with New-York, stands 
on the high grounds in the rear of Fort 

* The Reader ■will please refer to page 
^7, under Richmond County, imd Correct 
an important erroi; -with his pen, by sub- 
stituting State for General, in the 4:th l^ 
fi'om the bottom. 



Richmond, and is conspicuously seen 
'rom the Battery at New-York. It con. 
tains a uumber of white and black balls 
or kegs, and together with the flag and 
signal poles, make a handsome appear- 
ance. In lelligence is conveyed to New- 
York in 15 minutes, by hoisting these 
in a preconcerted order. This hill over- 
looks all tlae harbor of New-York, with 
Sandy-Hook, along the coast, and pre- 
sents an extensive view at sea. 

J.P.,J.,C.B.&A. 

Spaffohd, a TowBship in the S.W. ex- 
tremity of Onondaga County, 13 miles 
southerly of Onondaga.; bounded N. by 
Marcellus and Otisco, E. by TuUy, S. by 
Preble in Cortlandt County, W. by the 
Skeneateles Lake or the County of Cay- 
uga. This Town was erected in 1811, 
from the N. W. quarte,r of the Militai'y 
Township of TuUy, and its population 
is necessarily included in that of TuUy. 
Its area is about equal to 5 miles square. 
The central part has an extensive valley 
of fine land, extending N. and S., and 
the eastern and western extremes are 
considerably hilly. The soil is principal- 
ly a strong and productive loam, the 
timber maple, beech, bass or tilia, but- 
ternut, and a considerable variety of 
other kinds. It is well watered by 
springs and brooks, and has some small 
streams for mills, the largest of which 
is the inlet of Otisco Lake. It supplies 
also some small brooks for the sources 
of Tioughnioga of Chenango creek of the 
Susquehanna. The first settlements 
were made about 1806, and the inhabi- 
tants are farmers from the Eastern 
Slates. The land is held by right of 
soil. There are 2 or .3 miilsj and as 
many sciiool-houses, in which are also 
held the meetings for worship. The 
principal road is one from Skeneateles 
to Homer, leading N. and S. through the 
central part, equidistant between these 
two Villages, eacli being 14 miles. — 
Spafford also con^prises so much of the 
Military Township of Sempronius, as 
lies E. of Skeneateles Lake. 

SW.&P.R. 

Spahta, a Post-Township in the S. Wo 
corner of Ontaj-io County, 25 miles S.W. 
of Cunandaigua ; bounded N. by Gene- 
seo and Livonia^ E. by Livonia and Na- 
ples, 8. by Steuben and Allegany Coun- 
ties, W. by Genesee County. It com- 
prises 3 Townships ; No. 7 in the 6tU 
Range, and 7 and 8 in the 7th Range. 
The two W. Townships are well water- 
ed by Canaseraga creek, which suppliep 
fine miH-seats. The alluvial lands are 



304 



(GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



very fine, and the land is good in gene- 
ral and well settled, principally by emi- 
grants from Pennsylvania. Hemp is 
raised in considerable quantities, a plant 
that requires a strong soil, and soon ex- 
hausts the best. The ^'. E. corner em- 
braces a small part of Canesus Lake.— 
A road from Bath leads along tiie Ca- 
naseraga to Villlumsburgh, at the mouth 
of that creek in die N. W. corner of tliis 
Town. In 1810, the who'e population 
was i397, with 65 senatorial electors ; 
and the houshold looms, of which there 
are 56, produced 17,77 ~ yards of cloth- 
TJie V hole number of families is 232. — 
The Post-office m this Town was esta- 
blished in 1813. 

N.C.&J.C.S. 

Spbihgfiei-d, a Post-Township at the 
northern extremity of Otsego County, 
12 miles N. E. of Cooperstoim, and 58 
W of Albany ; bounded N. by Montgo- 
mery County, E. and Southerly by Cher- 
ry-Valley and Middlefield, W. by War- 
ren in Herkimer County, and by Otsego 
Town and Lake in the County of Otsego. 
Its area is about equal to 6 miles square. 
The surface is undulated with hills and 
vaSlies, and well divided into arable, 
meadow and grazing lands. The soil is 
principally a deep rich mold, in the val- 
lies. It has several small miU-streams, 
on which are erected 3 or 4 grain-mills, 
7 s-iw -mills, an oil-mill, fulling-mill and 
cardmg-machine. The Cherry-Valley 
turnpike to Manlius in Onondaga leads 
across this Town, and it has many oilier 
roads. The land is principally held in 
fee. There are 3 houses ibr worship ; 
one for Presbyterians, one for Congrega- 
tionalists, and one tor Baptists ; — ^nd 
there are 12 or 13 school-houses. Tiie 
houshold manufactures are respectable, 
and are improving in quality, as they 
increase in amount. In 1810, there were 
241 taxable inhabitants, and the taxable 
property was assessed at §205,073 The 
vht.le population, 1846, with 186 sena- 
torial elcctcn-s. Some few inhabitants 
who liad settled here, were driven oft' 
during the lievolutionary war : and the 
present inhabitants are principally com- 
posed of English, Irish, Du:ch, and 
Scotch emigrants. A large, deep spring, 
fifave the name to this Town. 
^ J.P.,S.B.&.E.P. 

Spkncer, a large Post-Township, the 
capital of Tioga County, is situated near 
tlie centre of thai County, 50 miles -S. 
easterly of Bath, 45 W. of Chenango, 
54 S. of Auburn, and 190 a liule S.ot 
\Y. fron< Albany ; bounded N. by Cayuta 



and Danby, E. by Candor, S. by Owego, 
W. by Chemung- Spencer was divided 
in 1811 ; and Cayuta, Danby, Caroline, 
and Candor, erected into separate Towns 
from the N. and E. parts. See the above 
Towns. Ihe returns of the Census of 
1810 make the population of Spencer 
3128 ; and the senatorial electors amoun- 
ted to 188, in the year 1810. The pre- 
sent Township of Spencer is well sup- 
plied with small creeks and mill streams. 
The Catetant winds across the northerri 
part, with numerous branches ; the Cay- 
uta forms the western boundary, and 
some smaller streams spread over the 
central part. Ihe land is of various 
qualities, and tlie surface has a conside- 
rable hilly aspect; with a great variety 
of forest trees. This Town has several 
settlements known by local names, as 
the Dutch Settlement, and Jivake^s Set- 
tlement, and some others. I'he seat of 
justice for this County has lately beeix 
removed from Elmira to this Township ; 
and the County buildings are within 
Drake's Settlcmf^nt, as it Is called, which 
is on the Catetant creek, near tlie E. 
line of Township No. 8, as designated 
on the Maps of the Surveyor-General. 
Hei'c is already a small Village, which 
lakes tlie name of i^pencer ; and .as its 
situation is pleasant and healthy, and 
being the centre of County business, 
promises to become a flourishing Coun- 
try Village. 

J.C.&N.T. 

STANFOiin, a Post-Township of Duchess 
County in what is "called Great Nine 
Partners, about 1 8 miles N. E. of Pough. 
keepsie. Stanford, with Clinton, and 
Washington, composed Charlotte Pre- 
cinct, before the llevolution, and it has 
been settled about 70 years. It adjoins 
North-East, Ainenia, Washington, and 
Clinton. Ii is a good Township of land, 
moderately uneven, well watered and 
cultivated, and contains many able farm- 
ers. A main branch of Wappinger's 
creek, affords many good mill-seats, and 
abundance of water-machmeiy. Stan- 
ford contains 3 merchant-mills, of 2 run- 
ning stones each, o grist-mills, 2 saw- 
mills, 2 paper-mills, 2 carding-machineSj, 
3 disliilenes, and 2 fulling-mdls. There 
are 3 houses for worship : one for Qua- 
kers, hi which are held ihe Stanlbrd 
quarterly meeting; 1 for Baptists, and 
1 for .Methodists. 

Thompson's and Upton's ponds, both 
quite small, are in this Town ; and ihe 
former discliarges a miil-strtam, im- 
proved vithiu 3U or 40 rods. Eroma 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



305 



calcareous hil' in the N. part of the 
Town, issues Cold Spring', in a good 
sized stream for an overshot mill. In 
this Town are BangaLl and Altlebwy, the 
former a local name for a small village, 
in a central posili<jn, where are liekl the 
tov/n-meetings. In 1810, the population 
was 2335, with 100 electors ; and the 
taxable property was valued at §419,700. 
There were 5564 sheep, 2898 cattle, 811 
horses, and the houshold looms produ- 
ced 12,680 yards cf cloth. 

A.K.,&C.R. 

Stephentowx, a Township in theS.E. 
corner of Rensselaer County. 24 miles S. 
E. of Troy, and 22 from Albany ; bound- 
N. by BQi-lin, E. by the State of Massa- 
chusetts, S. by Canaan in the County of 
Columbia, W. by Nassau. The surface 
of this Town is broken by high hills, 
and has a great diversity of soil. Its 
hills, which belong to the ranges that 
border this State and Massachusetts, 
noticed under Mountains, p. 49, and 
more particularly under Canaan, rise 
with assurance to the name of moun- 
tains. These ridges are principally on 
the E. and W., while the centre is oc- 
cupied by an extensive Valley in 
which rises a fine branch of Lebanon 
creek, or by hills of a moderate height, 
principally arable and productive. But 
there are extensive forests of pine in the 
W. part, in a tract called the Green 
Woods, and a soil of little value. The 
Vale of Stephentown opens northward 
from that of New-Lebanon, in Canaan, 
and is a very pleasant tract of light 
shistic gravel. In this Town is abtmd- 
{incc of limestone in detached ledges; 
and a quarry of very excellent slate for 
roofing of houses has been opened some 
years, and pretty extensively wrought. 
This is near New Lebanon Springs. — 
Some samples of lead oi-e in the form of 
galena, have been sent me from this 
Town, but tlidcy are not rich ; and the 
best mines for American farmers lie on 
the surface, rather than in the bowels of 
the earth. The taxable property m 1810, 
amounted to 295,977 dollars, of which 
33,866 dollars was personal property. — 
The whole population, 2567, with 257 
sena-orial electors. A turnpike is now 
opening from the hollow in this Town 
to Rensselaer Village, whiclJ it is said 
will open a nearer and better road to 
Albany. 

N.C.T.,B.S. 

Stillwater, a Post-Township of Sa- 
ratoga County, 12 miles E. of Ballslon, 
^Hd 22 miles N. of Albany ; bounded N. 



by Saratoga, E. by the Hudson or the 
County of Washington, S. by Hal. moon, 
W. by Malta, its medial length may be 
7 miles, and its width about 5 1-'... The 
E. line, following the course of the Hud- 
son, maybe 10 miles, and Saratoga lake 
forms 3 miles of the boundary at the N- 
W. corner. On the S., it is bounded by 
Round lake and its outlet, called An- 
tliony's creek. Tiie general surface is 
level, and the river hills of a nioderatfe 
height. Along the river, the timber is 
oak, walnut, map'e, &c., and the W. 
part has considerable of pine .and a soil 
of sand or a light sandy loam. There 
are tracts of clay or arg-illaceous mold, 
and the whole constitutes a pretty good 
fVtrming Township. 

In 1810, the whole population was 
2492, and there were 203 electors ; — 
taxable property S390,000. The stage- 
road from Albany tlirough Waterf(jrd 
toward Lake Champlain and Canada, 
leads along the river in this Town, where 
are some ple.asant little villages. Still- 
water Village is 22 miles from Albany, 
and contains about 30 houses Bemas's 
heights are in this Town, 3 miles N. of 
the above village, and iiere is much 
ground known in history by the events 
of the Revolutionary war. See Saratoga 
County, page 98, lor some historic noti- 
ces of Burgoyne's campaign, defeat and 
capitulation. 

N.C.,J.S. 

STRATFomi, a large Township of Mcmt- 
gomery County, erected in 1805 from 
the North end of Palatine ; bounded N. 
by St. Lawrence County, E- by Johns- 
town, S. by Palatine and Oppenheim, W. 
by S.alisbury. Its extent N. and S. may 
be 64 miles, E. and W. 9 miles. It is a 
wild tract of barren country, mountain- 
ous, marshy, and clothed with forests of 
evergreen trees. Its general altitude is 
indicated by its waters ; for it supplies 
sources of Oswegatchie river and St. 
Lawrence, and of Racket river also, 
Beaver and Moose creeks of Black river 
of Lake Ontario, ofE. Canada creek of 
the Mohawk, the Sacandaga of the Hud- 
son, and of the N. branch of the Hudson 
also. It has many lakes and ponds, and 
in the southern part, which has some 
inhabitants, there are .abundance of mill- 
seats. In 1810, the population was o5o, 
the taxable inhabitants 206, the senato- 
rial electors 60 ; and the whole amount 
of taxable personal property §1735 ; 
of real estate, §259,115. The improved 
part of Stratford is about 15 miles N.W. 



of Jtihr.sio-vr,, 



N.T.,J.M. 



306 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Stkudf.n, a Township of Oneida Coun- 
ty, 20 miles N. of Utica, and 110 from 
Albany ; bounded N. by Boonville, E. by 
Hemsen, S. b) Floyd "and Trenion, W. 
by VVestern. It is about 7 miles loiic^ 
and 6 1-2 wide, and was named in honoi' 
of Frederiok Vriliam Baron De Sletiben, 
adisting-uished officerof the Revolution- 
ary ivm'ies; to whom the principal part of 
the Township was granted for his services 
dui-ing the Revolutionary war. The situ- 
ation is elevated, tfce surface moderate 'y 
hilh, and tht soil, tho' rather moist for 
grain, is ex<:ellent for grass, and yields 
all the common crops in }^ood ]x;rfec- 
tion ; the hills beinsr moist, and the ral- 
lies extensive and ieru e. In 1810, 17 
tons ot butter were sent to New -York, 
and in 1811 about 30, from this Town. 
The streams are small, formed here, and 
yield but a scanty suppl> of ml:l seats. 
Steuben and Chicinnaii creeks are the 
largest, and there is 1 small natural 
pond. There are 4 congregations of 
Clinstians, and 2 houses of worship or 
•churches ; and 5 schuoi-houses, in which 
schools are kept the most of the year- 
—There are about 80 Welch families 
the others are of various nations and 
countries. The general character of the 
inhabitants is temperate and industrious 
—their dress decent, .and of their own 
manufacture. The lands principally 
held by durable lease, paying 10 to l.» 
dollars per annum on the 100 acres. — 
Steuben is 3 miles from Remsen Post- 
Office. Baron Steuben died in this Town 
in the autumn of 1796, and was buried 
on his own ground under a small ever- 
green tree agreeable to his own direc- 
tions, where his remains rest without 
even a monumental sione. In 1810, the 
poptdatioii was 1105, and 140 senatorial 
electors A. 

Stockhoim, a Post-Township of St. 
Lawrence County, organized as a Town 
in 1806. Jt is one ot tlie original lU 
Townships, purchased of tlie ■State in 
1786, and is situated SO or 33 miles E. of 
<lgdensburgh, the capital of tlie Coun-ty. 
iL has a Post-Office, kuown by the same 
name, 615 miles on the post route, from 
"Washington, and about 244 a little W. 
«f N. from Albany. It is well Waleied 
by the numerous branches of St. Regis 
river. The soil is principally a rich 
niold, heavily covered with maple, beech, 
birch, limetree, or linden, some oak, 
Hsh, and some pine. It is a pleasant. 
Township, settled about 1803, by emi- 
jfrants ironi the Eastern States, 'ihe 
pop.ulation, 1307 ; and 37 senatorial elect- 



ors. The road from Madrid to Malone 
aitd Lake Champlain, lies through this 
Town. Other roads are opened also; 
and it is fast peopling by that spirit of 
emigration so conspicuous in the East. 
A.L.,&N.C. 
Stamfohb, a Post -Township of Dela- 
ware County, 15 miles N. of E. from 
Delhi, 50 W. of Catskill on the Susque- 
hanna turnpike, and 60 miles S. \V. of 
Albany ; bounded N. by the head stream 
of Delaware river or the I'owns of Kort- 
right and Harpersfield, Easterly by Scho- 
harie County, Southerly by Roxbury, 
Westerly by Delhi. Its area may be 60 
square miles ; and besides the stream 
that forms the W. boundary, another 
branch, called Little Delaware, runs 
through the E. part, and supplies abund- 
ance of mill-seals. The land is broken, 
but the hills affijrd good giazing lands 
with spots of meadow also, and the val- 
lies are arable and fertile. The soil is 
principally a brownish loam. The whole 
population in 1810, was 1658, with 284 
families, 250 taxable inhabitants, 164 
electors, and 67,185 dollars of taxable 
property. • There are 2 houses for pub- 
lic worship ; 1 for Scotch Seceders, and 
1 for Episcopalians ; — and 6 schooUhoti- 
ses. There are 6 distilleries, a carding- 
raachme, and 70 looms in families, which 
produced 20,610 yards of cloth in 1810. 
The lands are held jjartly by lease, and 
partly in fee. A smiU Village, formerly 
called Tinkertown but now IVutervillef 
lies on both sides of the Delaware river, 
and has a grain-mill, fulling-mill, saw- 
mill, oil-mill and carding-machine, be- 
sides a meetiiig-house and 15 or 20 hou- 
ses. It is a busy little place, principally 
m Stamford, and partly in Harpersfield. 
N.T.,O.P.,&.C.G. 
SuMivAX, a Post-Township at the N. 
W. extremity of Madison County; boun- 
ded N. on Ojieida Lake, E. by Lenox, S. 
by Cazenovia and Smithiidd, W. by 
Onondaga County. It is about t4 miles 
long. N. and S , and 5| E. and W. Sul- 
livan was first erected in 1803, then in 
Chenango Co. ; — and in 1809 the eastern 
:vnd largest part was erected into the 
'['own of Lenox. The settlements com- 
menced about 179 . The present popu- 
lation of this Town, is 1974; — there are 
328 heads tf families, and 180 senatorial 
f-lectors. Tlie taxable propeny as va- 
lued on the Supervisors' books, §156,954. 
Washed on iis wbole northern boundary 
oy the Oneida Luke, it is well watered 
also by tlie Canaseraga .ind CliitteningQ 
creeks, the latter of which it receives 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



307 



irom Cazenovia. The southern part may 
be called hilly, but the northern and lar- 
gest part is quite level. TheChittenin- 
gohill, known to travellers by the name 
of the Canaseraga hill, over which the 
Seneca turnpike passes, is near a mile 
on that road, from the base to its sum- 
mit ; and is of considerable magnitude. 
The creeks above mentioned, furnish 
good mill-seats in abundance. And there 
are 3 grain-mills, 6 saw -mills, and soma 
carding-machines now erected, besides 
several others now building. There are 
8 school-houses^ and a meeting-house is 
now building. The land is held in fee 
simple. The Seneca turnpike, which 
passes E. and W. about 4 miles from the 
S. line of the Town, has been mentioned 
already ; and the other roads are conve- 
niently disposed, and well wrought. — 
Cannseraga is tlie principal Village si- 
tuated at the crossing of Seneca turn- 
pike, on Canaseraga creek, wheje are 35 
to 40 houses and stores. A handsome 
compact settlement about 2 miles N. of 
the turnpike, is called J\''eiu-Bofton. The 
Courts are, at present, held alternately 
in this Town and Hamilton. See Caze- 

KOTIA. 

Iron-ore is fovmd in Sullivan ; but its 
great mineral boast is Gypsum or plas- 
ter, a bed of which was opened in June, 
1810, supposed of great extent, and 
proves of a superior quality of that valu- 
able article. Many indications are found 
also, in other parts of the Town, but I 
4o not learn that other beds are yet 
wrought to any considerab'e extent. ' 

A.S.A. 

Sable River, or river Au Sable, rises 
in Essex County, and runs N. E. to Lake 
Champlain, after a course of about 35 
miles, near 20 of which it forms the 
boundary between Essex and Clinton 
Counties. This stream supplies a great 
number of mill-seats. Its channel is like 
that of a deep canal, with frequent locks, 
and forms an interesting curiosity. See 
Chesthrfield. Little Sadle enters the 
Lake 2 miles N. of the above, and is also 
a good stream for mills. 

Sacandaoa RivEn, rises in Johnsburgh, 
Washington County, and runs S. a little 
"VT. into Wells, Montgomery County, 
where it meets a branch from the N.W., 
and, 8 miles below, the main W. branch, 
from some ponds in Stratford and Johns- 
town. Ihese are rapid streams, of 50 
to 60 yards wide. Seven miles further 
itfeceives Stony creek, in Northampton, 
a good mill-stream ; and 9 miles below 
tiris, Fly or Vlaie creek, from the Great 



Fly in Northampton, which enters at the 
Fish-House. Here the ^acandaga curves 
short about, and pursues a N. E. course 
across the N. end of Saratoga County, 
to the Hudson, which it enters about 8 
miles S.W. of the S. end of Lake George. 
Its whole course may be near 80 mi'es, 
and the country through which it flows, 
til! it enters Northampton, is compara- 
tively wild. 

J.M. 

Sacket's HAiiBon, a Post-Village, Port 
of Entry, &c., in the Town of Hounsfield, 
Jefferson County, is situated on the S, side 
of Black river bay of Lake Ontario, 78 
miles W. of N. from Uiica, 176 miles 
N. W. from Albany, and 36 S. E. of King- 
ston in Upper Canada. It is one of the 
best harbors on Lake Ontario, and the 
Village at present contains about 40 fa- 
milies. It is rapidly increasing in popu- 
lation and improvements. 

J.B. 

Saog-Harbob, a Post-Village and Part 
of Entry in the N. E. corner of South- 
ampton, Suffolk County, 100 miles E. of 
the City of New-York, and 260 miles 
from Albany. Its harbor is good, and 
the Village contains about 80 houses- 
See Southampton. 

AR. 

Salisbuut, Village and Post-Office; 
see Blooming-Grot;;. 

Salmox Creek, of Cayuga Co., rises 
in Scipio and runs S. through Genoa into 
Cayuga Lake, near 5 miles below the S. 
end, and is a good mill-stream. Its 
length, 19 miles. 

Salmon Creek, of Oneida Countj', ri- 
ses principally in the S. W. of Lewis 
County, ai^d runs VV. through Oneida 
Co., to Lake Ontario, 4 miles N, of Mex- 
ico Point, Little Salmon Creek, rises 
in WiUiamstown, Oneida fJounty, and 
enters Lake Ontario at Mexico Point. 
The former has a devious course of 45, 
the latter about 25 miles. Their sources 
are interlocked with those of Fish cieek, 
of Wood creek of Oneida lake, or its 
small branches. 

Salmon Creek, of Ontario County, see 

SODUS. 

•Salmon Cheek, or river, rises in the 
S. E. part of Franklin County, and runs 
N. into Canada, through Constable, 
where is the Vil'age of French Mills, 
whence it is boatable 7 or 8 miles to its 
mouth in the St. Lawrence. It receives 
several branches, the largest of which are 
Little Saljion Creek, and Trout 
Cheek. 



308 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



SANhY-HiLL, a beautiful Pos'iVillajre 
and hali-siiiie nf Washinifcton County, in 
the Town of King'sburv, 52 miles N. of 
Albany, incorporaled in 1810 Tliis Vil- 
lag'e is laid out into lots upon streets 
■wh'.cji form a triangului- fig-ure, leaving" 
an ojien area in the centre. The soil is 
a light sand, very level. It is situated 
close on the margin of the Hudson im- 
mediately above Baker's falls, witli a 
high preciijitous b.ink, and enjoys a 
pure air, with a delightful prospect of 
extensively variegated scenery. 1 here 
are a number of mills erected on these 
falls, and they may be multiplied to any 
desirable extent. Within the Village 
are about 60 dwelling houses, many of 
them built in a style of elegance, a court- 
house, several stores and inns, and a- 
toul 300 inliabitanls. The courts for 
Washington Co., are held alternately 
here and at Salem. From this place to 
G!en'.s fails, is 3 miles, and a beautiful 
road on the bank of the river, so level 
that Glenville is in fair view. Perhaps 
the period is not very remote, when ai 
these two falls, sliall be found the seat 
of immense manufactories, which, iu 
addition to the usual trade, shall pro- 
duce a charming village extending from 
Sandy-Hill to Glen's falls. 

Z.H.,&J.B. 
SAxns's Point, the northern extremity 
of Cow-Neck, in N. Hr.xpsTEAu, Queens 
County, on Long-Island. Here is a Light- 
House, erected in 1809 by the United 
States, which, in compliment to its zeal- 
ous patron. Doctor S. L. Mitchill, is u- 
sually called Mitchill Light-House. 

Sahanac Riveb, rises in the S. of 
Franklin County, in several jarge ponds, 
and runs a N. easterly course of abou' 
65 miles through Franklin and Clinton 
Counties, and enters Lake Champiain at 
the Village of Plattsburgh, opposite 
Cumberland-Head. In the same district 
of less than 20 miles by 10, are the head 
•waters also of St. Regis, Racket, and 
Grass rivers, of the St. Lawrence, and 
of the N. branch of ihe Hudson. The 
Saranac is a very good stream for mills.. 
Sakanac Lake, see Keene. 
Saratoga Countt, see page 98; ^j.iie- 
nectadt Countv, 100} Sciiohahie Coun- 
TX, 101; Seneca County, 102; .•^teuben 
County, 103 ; St. Lawrence County, 
104; Suffolk County, 105; and c^ulli- 
VAN Cou^•Ty, 107. ' 

ScuLOssETt, Fort, an old Stockade 
fort, now in perfect ruins, in Cambria, 
Niagara County, on the E. side of the 
liver, 1 1-2 mile above 3Ianchester, at 



Niagara falls. At this place is the up- 
per Landing for the portage around the 
falls, and a large and commodious 
store-house has been erected here, by 
Messrs. Porter, Barton &. Co., where 
all the mercliandize intended for the S. 
western country is deposited, and for- 
v.'arded thence in boats to Black rock. 
Its site is opposite the N. end of Navy- 
Island. This post was smTcndered to 
the United States in 1796, agreable to 
the provisions of Jay's treaty. It was 
only a stockade, and is now only known 
as a fort, by retaining j^ts former name. 
Tt was built by the British, soon after 
they gained possession of thi^ country 
in the old French war. 

J.H.,&.A.P. 
Schoharie Creek, rises in the south- 
ern extremity of Greene County, on the 
W. side of the Catsbergs or CatsklU 
mountains, in the Town ot Windham, 
and winding N. W. about 23 miles, en- 
ters Schoharie County, through which 
it flows northerly near 40 miles, and it 
enters the Mohawk in Montgomery Co. 
Its whole course may be 70 miles ; and 
it is about 10 rods wide in Schoharie. 
This stream has very extensive alluvial 
Hats in Middleburgh and Schoharie, 
througli which it holds a central course- 
It is a rapid stream, and is bordered by 
high hills and precipitous banks in many 
places, ridges of the Catsberg and Hei- 
delberg hills, for which see page 9. It 
receives several small streams, the larg- 
est of which are Cobtlskill and FoX 
creek. For the etymology of this name, 
see Schoharie Countv, page 101. 

LH.T. 
Sciiuyler's L.^ke, or Lake Caniadera- 
ga, a handsome collection of clear water 
in the N. part of Otsego County, 4 miles 
\V of OlSegoLake. Ii discharges Oak's 
crtek into the Susquehanna, 3 miles 
relow Otsego Village, and is about 5 
miles long and 1 vvide. Like Otsego 
Lake, it abounds with fish for the angler. 

E.G. 
ScRooN Lake, a small body of water, 
.ibout 12 miles W. of the N. end of Lake 
George, parallel to that I^ake, properly 
an expansion of the rs\ E. branch of 
Hudson river, is about 8 miles long, and 
nearly 1 wide, though towards the sou- 
ihern extremity ii contracts so gradually 
as to make it questionable where the 
Like ends. The N. part is much the 
widest, and lies about haif in Essex Co., 
and half in Washington County, forming 
the boundary between Hague on the E., 
'1 airi Chester on the W, The outlet is 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



309 



called Scroop River, and has many falls, 
as, first fall, five miles from the outlet, 
which is improved; second fall, 1-2 a 
mile below, and the fall called Tumble- 
head, near the S. extremity of Chester. 
. Scroon Lake abounds with fish, similar 
to those of Lake George. 

ScROox River is the name by which 
the N. E. branch of the Hudson oug-ht 
to be designated ; and the J\''- branch 
shoilld g-ive }>lace to the continuous de- 
signation of the Hudson. See the Map. 
Sexeca Lake, lies about 6 to 15 miles 
W. of Cayuga Lake, nearly parallel with 
that, and extends N. and S. nearly in a 
right line, about 35 miles. Its width 
varies from 2 to 4 miles, and its average 
width may be near 2| miles, and it is 
very deep. About 19 miles of the N. 
end lies between Seneca and Ontario 
Counties ; and it receives the outlet of 
Crooked Lake from the W., in Ontario 
County. It discharges Seneca river from 
the N. end, which nuis Er. to the N. end 
of Cayuga Lake. At its S. end, is an 
extensive marsh, principally in Tioga 
County, through which run some small 
streams to the Lake ; and it receives 
several other small streams, on which 
are mills. On the AA'. shore, at the N. 
end, stands the flourishing Post- Village 
of Geneva, which see. 

J.S. 
Sexeca River, issues from the N. end 
of Seneca Lake, and runs N. eastward 
across the Counties of Seneca, Cayuga 
and Onondaga, to Oswego river, which 
it enters at Three-river-point in the 
Town of Cicero. Its whole course is 
about 60 miies, in which it receives the 
streams that run from Cayuga, Canan- 
daigua, Owasco, Skeneate^es and Onon- 
daga or Salt Lakes, besides many other 
small streams This stream affords con- 
siderable facilities for boat navigation, 
and also supplies some valuable mill- 
seats. The stream to which I iiave as- 
signed the name of Seneca river, is par- 
tially known by a variety of vague and 
puerile designations, arising from the 
variety and number of the several w.aters 
that firftl a common course in its chan- 
nel. 'Ihere can be no propriety in chang- 
ing its name every few miies, for that of 
the last stream tiiat unites with it, nor 
in calling it, promiscuously, by all those 
names. Sec the Map. In like manner 
I have assigned to Oswego river, a n ime 
commensurate with the whole course of 
that stream, from tiie outlet of Oneida 
Lake lo L. Ontario. 
Seneca ViiiACE, see Ji;xrrs. 



Sebteca IxniANs, see Buffaio. 
Setauket Post-Office, and Stont- 
Brook Post-Office, see Brookhaven. 

Shawangunk Creek, see AA'ALLKriii 
Creek. 

SiiENEVAs Creek, a small branch of the 
Susquehanna, rises in the E. part of Ot- 
sego County, and pursues a S.\V. course 
of near 20 miles. 

SiNG-SixG, A''illage and Landing, see 

MouST-PtKA SAINT. 

Six.MiEE Creek, a small stream that 
enters the head of Cayuga Lake at Itha- 
ca. A part of its course is in the N. E. 
part of Tioga County, where it furnishes 
the best of mill-seats. Its whole course 
may be 17 miles. 

Skanando Creek, a small water of 
Oneida creek, rises in Augusta, Oneida 
County, runs northerly through said 
Town, and Vernon, and enters Oneida 
creek near the S. W. corner of Verona. 
It furnishes good mill-seats in Augusta 
and Vernon. Its length, about 14 miles. 
SKENEATEtEs, a liaudsoipe Post- Village 
in Marcellus, Onondaga County, at the 
outlet of Skeneateles Lake, 163 miles 
N. of W. from Albany. Here are 60 
houses, a handsome Presbyterian church, 
Several mills, &c., on Skeneateles creek, 
and it has a brisk trade. The Seneca 
turnpike leads through this Village, and 
there is one also from Otsego County. 
D.T.,S.G.,&E. 
Skeneateles Lake, is about 15 miles 
in length, and i-2 to I 1-2 mile wide, 
principally in Onondaga County, 6 miles 
at the IV. end of which is in the Town- 
sliip of Marcellus. It abounds with fish 
for the angler, and its crout and salmon 
trout are very large. The outlet is at 
the N. end,% the ViUage of Skeneate- 
les ; and Skeneateles Creek runs N. 
through Marcellus and Camilhis about 
10 miles to Seneca river, affording manv 
fine seats for mills. Skeiieaieles, in the 
dialect of the Onondaga Indians, signi- 
fies long ; and the lake had its name 
from them. 

. E.,&E.AV. 

StoTE Landinu, see Orangetown. 
SiMiTHSEORo', Post-Oflice, see Owjego 
Township. 

South-Bat, see Brookhaven. 
Speigletown, see Scmaghticoke. 
Spencertown P Office, .see Hilesbaii:, 
Staatsberg, an opuient farming neigh- 
borhood in Ciintonv Duiche.ss Countv, 
where is a Post Otfice, 70 nnles froin 
Albany, and 10 from Poughkeepsie. 

M.L. 
Stanton HiLr, see Nuw-Baitimobe, 
40 



310 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



Stt^rling Village, see Sottthold. 

Sterlins Works, see Warwick. 

Stone Arabia, see Palatine, 

Stone Bridge, see Chester. 

Stont-Point, see Haterstraav. 

St. George's Manor, see Riverhead. 

St. Regis Riter, is formed of many 
small streams that rise in the S. west- 
ern part of Franklin County, and within 
St. Lawrence Co., principally in Hopkin- 
ton and Stockolm ; whence it pursues a 
N. and N. E. course 20 miles, and enters 
the St. Lawrence just at the Indian vil- 
lage of St. Regis, 1-2 mile N. of tha 45th 
degree of Latitude. Its whole course 
may be about 80 miles : and it enters 
Franklin Co., about 4 miles before it 
reaches the line of this State. 

A.L. 

SuLPntTR Spring Creek, a southern 
branch of Tonnewanta creek, runs from 
Genesee into Niagara County, its whole 
course being about 20 miles, emptying 
in the N. E. corner of Clarence. 

SusauEHANNA, a large river of Chesa- 
peak Bay of tire Atlantic Ocean, rises in 
this State, in a great number of branch- 
es tliat spread from E. to W. in the ex- 
treme points, over a tract of country of 
about 160 miles. The most northern 
point from which any of these streams 
run S., is within 5' of 43" of N. Lati- 
tude. These numerous streams are col- 
lected by two large branches, the Tie- 
TvA, and the E. branch, or proper Sus- 
f^uehanna, which takes its name at the 
outlet of Otsego Lake, at the Village of 
Cooperstown. From this place it runs 
S. to Delaware County, then turns S.W. 
and forms the boundary of Otsego and 
Delaware Counties, runs across the S. E. 
angle of Chenango, the E. eift of Broome 
Co., into Pennsylvania, whence it turns 
W., N.W. and W., across Broome, and 
the S.E. corner of Tioga County again in- 
to Pennsylvania, about 3 miles before it 
meets the great western branch at Tio- 
gfi-Point. Its whole course, which is 
very devious, and full of small turns, 
may be near 145 miles within this ^tate. 
Its navigauon is good for export trade, 
and immense quantities of timber in all 
the various forpis of boards, scantling, 
shingles, &.c , &c., descend it to Balti- 
more, on an arm of the Chesapeak. The 
forests abound with pine, and with lo- 
cust trees, so valuable in ship-building 
besides other useful woods. See page 
11, and also tlie Counties enumerated 
above, for other and more minute details. 
This large river abounds with rapids, 
and after running acrqsjs the State ol 



Pennsylvania, it enters Chesapeak Bay 
in the N. E. corner of the State of Ma- 
ryland, 69 miles in a right line, about 
N.E. from tlie City of Washington. 



T. 

THOMPSOjY, the capital of Sulli- 
van County, bounded N. by Wawarsing 
and Neversink, E. by Mamakating, S. 
by Deerpark in Oi-ange County, AV. by 
the Mongaup, which separates it from 
Lumberknd, Bethel and Liberty. Its 
length N, and S. is about 24 miles, 
breadth 12. The principal settlements 
are Thompson, JMonticellOf Bridgeville, 
and Concord. Thompson stands on the 
Sheldrake creek, one mile above its 
mouth in the Neversink. It is 2 miles 
N. of the Neversink bridge, has very el- 
igible sites for mills, where are 2 saw- 
mills and 1 grain-mill. Jiloiiticello is 
pleasantly situated on the Newburgh 
and Cochecton turnpike, 38 miles from 
Newburgh, 22 from the Delaware. Here 
is a Post-Office, established in 1811, 110 
miles from Albany, 34l from Washing- 
ton City, and about 20 dwelling-houses, 
one school-house, some stores, &c. In 
the vicinity are mills, on the Sheldrake 
creek. The site for the County build- 
ings is fixed here, on subdivision 7&, of 
gveat lot 14, in the Hardenbergh Patent. 
The first settlement of this place com- 
menced in 1804, by Judge Jones and 
brother, from New-Lebanon ; and the 
enterprizing spirit of these gentlemen 
has largely contributed towards the 
prosperty of the country. Bridgevillc 
lias 8 or 10 dwellings, and stands on the 
Neversink river, 34 1-2 miles from New- 
burgh, where is an elegant covered 
bridge of 160 feet, on the Newburgh 
and Cochecton turnpike. At the falls of 
the Neversink, 7 miles above Bridge- 
ville, are some mills, and there are ma- 
ny in different parts of the Town. The 
whole area of Thompson is 139,500 a- 
cres : taxable property, ^94,500 ; po- 
pulation, Census of 1810, males 701, fe- 
males 589 ; total 1290. The land is 
pretty good, though there are some 
pine plains of poor soil. On the better 
soil, the tiihber is beech, maple, hem- 
lock, ash, linden, &c. There are seve- 
ral small ponds, of 1-2 mile diameter. 
The principal streams are the Never- 
sink, Mongaup and Sheldrake. 

L.B.&I.F.J. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



3U 



THtTRMAN-, a Post-Township of Wash- 
ington County, erected April 10, 1792, 
from Queensbury, and then comprised 
a ^reat extent of territory, since subdi- 
vided into other Towns. Thurnian is 
bounded N. by Chester and Johnsburgh, 
E. by Caldwell and Bolton, S. by Sarato- 
§•0 County, W. by Montgomery County. 
The first settlements commenced about 
1786, and there are now, 1810, about 
200 families, i Scotch, the remainder 
from the Eastern Stales. There is one 
Presbyterian, and 1 Methodist meeting- 
house, and a pretty competent number 
of common school-houses and schools. 
This country may be called mountain- 
ous, and in the W. part of Thnrman is 
the lofty summit ca led Crain's moun- 
tain, rich in mineral treasures. The 
whole Township is well watered, and 
near its centre is the junction of ^croon 
with the N. branch of Hudson river 
Iron-ore, and a pigment for paint of va- 
rious colors, are found in Crain's moun- 
tain. The soil is very various : In the 
western part, stony and moist, — a hea- 
vy soil, good for grazing: while the 
eastern part is principally a sandy loam, 
better adapted for grain. Timber, 
beech, maple, ash, birch, hemlock, and 
vast forests of pine. Great quantities 
of pine lumber go annually to market, 
principally in logs, to Fort-Edward and 
Fort-Miller, which is there sawed and 
rafted in boards, for Albany and a mar- 
ket. There are 2 grist-mills, 6 saw- 
mills, and some other water machinery. 
But a large tract of the western part of 
Tharman remains yet unsettled. Whole 
population in 1810, 1330, with 61 elec- 
tors. The Post-Office is on Scroon ri- 
ver, 7 miles from the Village of Cald- 
well, between which places the road has 
been recently improved by a grant of 
money from the Treasury., See Cald- 
well. 

K.B 

TrcoNDEHOGA, a Township of Essex 
County, in which is situated the remains 
of the celebrated Fortress of the same 
name, lies in the S. E. corner of Esses 
County, erected in 1804. It is bounded 
N. by Crown-Point, E. on Lake Cham- 
plain, S. by Washington County, W. by 
Scroon, and includes the N. end of Lake 
George, L. George creek being the out- 
let of that Lake, and some other streams 
presenting great advantages for mills. 
Along the shore of Lake Champlain are 
considerable tracts of level lands, while 
back from the Lake are high mountains. 
Mount D'fiaiice is in the S. part of this 



Town, and there are several other emi- 
nences of some note. There are about 
200 families, and 35 senatorial electors ; 
— 7 saw-mills, 3 grain-mills, 3 forges, 2 
carding-machines, some smaller machin- 
cry driven by water, and 5 school-hou- 
ses. A broom manufactory must not be 
forgotten, which makes 100 brooms pe^ 
day, with the labor of one man ;— the 
machinery being moved by water. A- 
bout half the land is held in fee, and the 
State owns large tracts here The pe- 
ninsula, on wliich stands the Fort, is an 
elevated tract of about 500 acres, belong- 
ing to the State. The inhabitants are 
mostly farmers, and tlie getting of lum- 
ber occupies the season of rest from ag- 
ricultural labors. The products are 
those common to the counti-y. 

The Fortress of Ticonderoga, so often 
mentioned in the history of American 
wars, is now a heap of ruins, though 
many of the walls are so entire as to ex- 
hibit proofs of the excellency of their 
construction, and of the plan of the 
wijrks. It was built by the French in 
1756, on a point of land formed by the 
junction of L. George creek with L. 
Champlain, in N. Lat. 43" 50', and 34' 
E. Long, from New- York. The name is 
derived to us from the Indians, Frenchi- 
fied ; and signified noisy : Cheon-der- 
oga ; probably in allusion to the water. 
But the French called it Fort Carillon. 
It was a place of great strength, both 
by nature and art. On 3 sides it is sur- 
rounded by water, and abput half of the 
other side is occupied by a-deep swamp, 
while the line of defence was completed 
by the Frencli, with the erection of a 
breast-work 9 feet high, on the only as- 
sailable ground. In 1758, Gen. Aber- 
crombie, with the British army, assail- ^ 
ed this fortress ; was defeated July 9, 
with the loss of 1941 men. But it was 
surrendered to Gen. Amherst, in July of 
the following year. It was the first For- 
tress carried by the arms of America, 
in the war that established our Inde- 
pendence ; was taken by surprise by Col. 
Allen, May 10, 1775, and retained till 
July, 1777, when it was evacuated on 
the Approach of Gen. Burgoyne with the 
British army. Mount Inclepende7icc, of- 
ten mentioned in connexion with Ticon- 
deroga, lies on the E. side of the Lake, 
about 2 miles S.E. of that Fort, between 
which places there is a well I'egulated 
ferry. Moimtains, plains, rivers, lakes ; 
— the mouldering ruins of the monu- 
ments of war ; — the reminiscence of his- 
toric importance, and the interest w^iidi 



312 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



those recollections excite, — all combine 
to fix and deeply eng'age the attention 
of Travellers, on a visit to Ticonderog'a, 
CrowR-Point, and the Fortresses of this 
I'egion. — The population of this Town 
in'1810, 985; 511 being males, and 474 
females. The taxable property, 63,779 
dollars, as per the Supei'visors' books. 
JK.&B.D.P. 
Tioga, a large Township in the S. W. 
corner of Broome County, 13 miles W. 
of Chenango-Poiiit, with a Post-Office in 
the Village of 0-wego, 170 miles from 
Albany ; bounded N. by Berkshire, E. 
by Union, S. by the State of Pennsylva- 
nia, W. by Tioga County. It is about 
15 miles long N. and S., and 7 broad ; 
having the Susquehanna running west- 
ward across its centre. Besides this ri- 
ver, and Owego creek, on which it is 
bounded on the W., there are some mill- 
streams, and a large branch of Owego 
creek, or perhaps the main stream, u- 
cross the N. W. corner. The soil is va- 
rious, and the surface considerably une- 
ven. Along the river, white pine pre- 
dominates, intermixed with oak, ches- 
nut, Sic, as we rise the hills, where are 
tracts of maple, beech, and other woods 
that indicate the various kinds of soil : 
dry and sandy for pine, gravelly and 
\varm for oak and chesnut, dry and ara- 
ble, good for grain ; more moist for ma- 
ple and beech, meadow and grazing 
lands. Fruit succeeds extremely well 
in general, and apples ai'e no where bet- 
ter or more fair. The land is held in 
fee, except in Cox's patent, principally 
on the S. side of the river, where the 
land is more hilly. In 1810, there were 
3 or 4 gram-mills, 7 saw-mills, and a 
fiiUing-mill, when the whole population 
was sbo, with 51 electors, and 140 taxa- 
* ble inhabitants. This Town has been 
settled since about 1790. 

About a half mile from the moutli of 
Owego creek, on the N.bank of the Sus 
quehanna, stands the Villabe of Owego, 
where are 60 houses, stores, &,c , accord- 
ing to one Correspondent, and 42 ac- 
cording to the estimate of another. — 
This Village has a Post-Office of the 
same name, and a brisk trade, whith is 
rapidly increasing its population and 
importance. Here is also a printing-of- 
fice ; and my Correspondent writes that, 
in ihe spring of 1810, 50 rafts and 6 arks 
■were waiting a rise of water, to descend 
the Sascpiehanna. The trade in salt and 
gy])sum or plaster, from Onondaga, is 
very great and rapidly increasing. 3000 
bstrrcls of salt ure said to have been de- 



posited here for a mai'ket in 1810 ; and 
my Correspondents write that the trade 
in salt and plaster has increased to an 
almost incredible amount. The X'oad is 
good from the S. end of Cayuga Lake, 
and the distance 30 miles. 

N.C.,E.C.,D.T.-&S.G. 

Tompkins, a Post-Township in the 
S.W. extremity of Delaware County, 27 
miles S. W. of Delhi, and 100 from Al- 
bany ; bounded on the N. W. by Mason- 
ville, N.E. by Walton, S. E. by Hancock, 
Westerly by Broome County, and a small 
angle on the State of Pennsylvania. The 
Delaware river runs centrally across it 
to the W. line, where it curves south- 
ward and forms about half of its western 
boundary. The land is broken by hills 
and vallies, and its general character is 
like that of Walton. This Town was 
erected in 1806, from Walton, and call- 
ed Pinefield till 1808, when it received 
its present name in honor of Governor 
Tompkins of this State. In 1810, ita 
whole population was 896, with 153 fa- 
milies, 48 senatorial electors, 118 taxa- 
ble inhabitants, and §6888 of taxable 
personal property, and an aggregate of 
real and personal amounting to 143,405 
dollars. The Village of Deposit in this 
Town is situated on the E. bank of the 
Delaware, 105 miles W. of Catskill, and 
14 S. E. of Oquag'o, Broome County. It 
has about 30 houses in the compact part, 
and is incorporated as a Village. Its 
trade is considerable and increasing, 
though principally confined to lumber 
at present, for the Philadelphia market. 
The Oquago locust for ship-building has 
a high reputation, and it is deposited 
here in very great quantities. This Vil- 
lage was formerly called the Cook-house. 
A.,O.P.&C.G. 

TiiEjfTOK, a Post-Township of Oneida 
County, 12 ptiilcs N. of Utica ; bounded 
Northerly by Steuben and Remsen, East- 
erly by \V. Canada creek or Herkimer 
County, S. by Deerfield, W. by Floyd. 
This 'iovvn is pretty well watered by 
small streams, and by springs. The soil 
is good ; the forest woods are elm, lin- 
den or basswood, butternut, beech, ma- 
ple, &c. The inhabitants are principally 
of New-England descent, though there 
are some of the ancient Dutch from 
Holland, the original purchasers from 
the state ; and their industry is well re- 
warded, in the products of agriculture. 
There are some very remarkable tails in 
W. Canada creek, on the eastern border 
of this Town, lliat at the Bridge, ou 
the road from the Little Fulls of the 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



313 



Mohawk, to Lewis County, is very pic- 
turesque, and the water falls a great 
height. But the largest is about two 
miles below^ 2 miles E. of Trenton Vil- 
lage, whei'e the water pours over suc- 
cessive cataracts formed by strata of 
limestone, in all about 100 feel within 
a few rods. Tlie rocks which bind the 
stream below, rise perpendicularly 100 
to 130 feet, capped by evergreens of 
spruce, tir, hemlock, and sublimely fin- 
ish a landscape of uncommon beauties. 
The difficulty of access has hitherto pre- 
vented the visits of the curious ; but 
those would find a rich treat, who de- 
light in scenery of this kind. See W. 
Canada Cheek. The limestone is very 
hard and compact, receives a good po- 
lish, and is much used in building. — 
This stream affords innumerable sites 
for mills in Trenton. . The population is 
1548 ; senatorial electors, 127- There 
are 5 grain-mills, 8 saw-mills, 2 clothie- 
ries, 2 cardlng-machines, 2 trip-ham- 
mers, and a competent number of com- 
mon mechanics. A tui-npike road is now 
opening from Utica, through this Town, 
to intei-sect the State road from Johns- 
town to Black river, about 8 miles N. 
of the Village of Trenton. The Steuben 
and Cincinnati creeks unite at this Vil- 
lage, and meet W. Canada creek about 
3 miles below. The surface of the east- 
ern part is the most uneven, but tliere 
is very little waste land. The largest 
compact settlement is situated toward 
the N. E. part of this Town, 2 miles W. 
of the falls above mentioned, and called 
Oldenbarneveld or Trenton. It stands at 
the junction of 2 small creeks, and con- 
tains about 70 to 80 buildings, where is 
the Post-Office, 13 miles from Utica, 
and 107 from Albany. 

L.G.&J.S. 
Tnor, a Post-Township, the capital 
of Rcnssselaer County, on the E. bank 
of the Hudson, 6 miles above Albany, 
and 166 N. of New-York ; bounded N. 
by Lansingburgh, E. by Brunswick, S. 
by Greenbush, W. by the Hudson or the 
County of Albany. This Township, 
though restricted to a, comparatively 
small' area, has a greatier aggregate po- 
pulation than any other in the County. 
The flourishing Village of Troy is in 
this Town, from which it has its name. 
Along the river are extensive fiats, and 
therivei'-hill is mostly arable through- 
out. In the S. where the hills appi'oach 
nearest the river, are some fine streams 
for mills, and falls of a great height — 
Oil these streams are many valuable 



mi 'Is, and various water-works, and ma- 
ny excellent sites yet unoccupied. There 
are few places on the Hudson, of the 
same area, that combine more advantages 
for a populous Town. The soil is good 
throughout, and the surface handsomely 
disposed ; here are excellent facilities 
for water-works, and that near tlie head 
of sloop-navigation on one of the best ri- 
vers in America. In 1810, the whole 
amount of taxable property, as valued 
by the Assessors, amounted to §433,555. 
The whole population was 3895, includ- 
ing 89 slaves ; and there are 334 elect- 
ors. The tides in the Hudson carry a 
gentle swell to the Village of Troy, 
where that river is about 900 feet wide 
between low-waier marks. Poestenkill 
and Wynant's kill run across the S. part 
to the Hudson, and supply a vast profu- 
sion of mill-seats, on which are erected 
extensive works of various kinds, for 
which see the Village. 

The Village of Thoy is finely seated 
on a handsome gravelly plain, on the E. 
bank of the Hudson, 6 miles N. of Al- 
bany.* It is incorporated as a Village, 
is regularly laid out in streets and 
squares, and contains 660 houses and 
stores, 5 houses of worship, 2 banks, 
the court-house and prison for the Coun- 
ty, a market-house, and many other 
buildings. A large proportion of the 
houses are of wood, but naanyof them 
are large and elegant, as are those built 
of brick also, which form a considerable 
number of the whole. The ground on 
which the Village stands is very level, 
composed of a loose and remarkably 
clean gravel. The streets are wide, with 
sufficient side-walks, but pavements are 
not yet in use. River-street, the princi- 
pal avenue, extends along the river about 
one mile ; and as it curves with that, 
receives all the shorter streets that run 
N. and S., as well as all those that lead 
E. and West. Excepting River-street, 
the others all run in right lines, forming 
the rear space into perfect squares, and 
the straight streets are each 60 feet 
wide. No Town on the Hudson is laid 
out with better taste or judgment, and 
no one appears to better advantage. — 
Tliere is a large rope-walk in the S. part 
of the Village, and almost every branch 
of common mechanical industry, with a 
considerable variety of manufacturing. 
The trade of I'roy is very extensive, 
and it employs a great number of sloops, 
&c., on the Hudson : In all about 30 

* Sec IVaterforcl and Lanshi^bursrh. 



314 



GAZEFrEER OF NEW-YORK. 



sloops, and 18 smaller vessels. In 
wealth, and in trade, Troy takes the 3d 
rank in the state, among' its populous 
Towns. The several houses of worship) 
belong to the Presbyterians, Baptist^, 
Episcopalians, Quakers and Methodists; 
and there are also several school-houses. 
There are 2 Banks in this viilac^e, with 
an agf^regiite capital of 850,000 dollars ; 
and the hous'-s belonging' to these bank 
companies are of brick, handsome edifi- 
ces, that are very ornamental, and stand 
contiguous, in a central part of the Vil- 
lag'e. 

The river-hill which rises in the rear 
of Troy, is very appropriately called 
2VIoimt Ida, and its fine sides and sum- 
Jnits present most elcg-ant sites for build- 
ing', that command an extensive view of 
Troy, and the surrounding country. 
Prom the summit of this hill, the view 
embraces Albany, Lansingburgh, andWa- 
terford, and the Cahoos falls of the IMo- 
Jiav.k, with the ^^hole extent of inicrme- 
diate country, while Troy lies like an 
embossed map just at your feet inviting 
to nearer view. And there are falls of 
Mount Ida also. The Poestenkill is 
roaring along toward the Hudson, and 
presents some falls of a most interesting- 
appearance, wlicre are mills and various 
water-"^vorkB. The descent is very great 
in u thort distance, and I regret th;it I 
havenoaCcount of an exactmeasurement. 
Troy was first laid out into lots in June, 
1787, at which time it was occupied a.s 
a farm, on which wore 3 or 4 houses, one 
<jf which is still standing. In 1792, it 
began to assume the appearance of a 
thriving village. Tlie early inhabitants 
came, principally, from the Eastern 
States, and they brought with them all 
their characteristic industry and perse- 
verance. In 1806, there were in this 
Village near 3000 inhabitants, 400 hous- 
es, and 80 stores, besides work-shops 
and out-housc:;. There are now, 1812, 
about 540 duelling-houses, 120 stores, 
jnany of which are verj- large and ele- 
gant, and a large number of shops and 
out-houses. 

Troy was incorporated in 1801, and 
elected its own ofiicers of police until 
1806, when, by an alteration of its Char- 
ter, the President of the Village is to be 
apiiointed by the State Council. It is 
^•(jverned by a President and several 
Trustees. I'he President has a salai-y 
of 150 dollars; and a Clerk, and an At- 
torney for the Coi poration, have each a • 
aaiary of 30 dollars. I have Jiow before 



me the Clerk's attested account of the 
receipts and expenditu; es of the Village 
for the year ending April 25th, 1811, 
from which it appears that the whole 
amount of receipts of the Treasury, was 
1589 dollars and 61 cents : and the ex- 
penditures and disbursements, was 1491 
dollars and 9 cents. 

Few, if any, of the Towns on the Hud- 
son, enjoy g-reater facilities for manufac- 
tures than Troy. Its conveniences for 
water-works are very great, and there 
iu-e already many extensive works erect- 
ed on the two streams noticed above. 
The Poestenkill enters the Hudson about 
a half mile beiow the centre of the Vil- 
lage, and the Wynant's kill two and a 
half. 

Several mills and other works hare 
been erected since the above article 
was written, and ,1 am not prepared 
to give precise details. There are, how- 
ever, a rolling and slitting mill, an ex- 
tensive cotton and woollen factory, a 
paper-mill, carding machine, fulling, 
mill, a manufactory of fire-arms, and one 
also of shovels and spades, besides se- 
veral nail-works, a distillery, and sever- 
al grain and saw-mills. 

F.A.,B.S.,&A.2. 

Trotjfsbxtkkh, a Township in the S.AV. 
corner of Steuben Countv, 25 miles S. 
\Y. of Bath Village, erected in 1808, from 
the S. part of Canisteo and a small part of 
Addison, and extended to Allegany Co-, 
in 1811 ; bounded N. by Canisteo and 3 
miles of Addison, E.by Addison, former- 
ly ^iiddletown, S. by the State of Pennsyl- 
vania, W. by Allegany Co. It is 18 miles 
long E. & W., and about 10 miles wide. 
It includes the half of Township No. 1 
in the 4'-h Ilange ; Nos. 1, in the iSth and 
6th Kanges, and the half of Nos. 2, in the 
5th and 6th Kanges, with the fourth 
part of No. 2, in the 4th Range. No. 1, 
in the 5di Range, is an excellent Town- 
ship, the liills low, and the timber ma- 
ple, beech, basswood, walnut, kc. It 
IK'S good mill-sites on Tuscarora and 
Troup's creeks. No. 2, in the same 
range, is also good ; as is No. 1, in the 
6th Riinge, the timber oak, walnut, elm, 
basswood, bc(;c!i and maple. Vliistown 
has been settled only since 1805, and is 
yet very wild. It has good iron-ure. 
The population in 1810, 292 persons, 
and 36 senatorial electors. 

T.C.&N.CT. 
Tnt;xTO^-, a Post-Township m the N.. 
E. corner of Cortlandt County, 14 miles 
N.E. (jUIcnw, 142 W. of Albany; bo and- 



gazettee:: of new-york. 



315 



erl N. by Fabins, in Onondajra Co., E. by 
Madison Co., S. by Solon, W. by Preble. 
Its extent is 10 miles E. and W., and 5 
miles N. and S., comprising tlie S. half 
of tlic Township of Fabius, ia the Mili- 
tary tract. The jjeneral character of 
surface, soil, timber, &c., is similar to 
that of Fabins, and it is watered only i 
by branches of the Tiouffhniog'a that rise 
in that Town. It has the turnpike ! 
that leads from Otsego to Homer, and 
a road extending N. and S. from Lisle, in 
Broome Co., to Manlins, in Onondaga 
Co. The sti'eams afford good mill- seats, 
and the improvements are rapidly in- 
creasing with the population The soil 
is good, possessed in fee by its occu- 
pants, and its agriculture is productive. 
In 1810, the population was 1012, the 
senatorial electors 129, when vlie taxa- 
ble property was assessed at 47,673 dol- 
lars. The settlements have been made 
since about 1800. Live Ciitle are driv- 
en every year to Philadelphia, and the 
farming Counties on the Hudson, to a 
large amount, from ihis snd the adja- 
cent Towns, Truxton Viliage, has a fine 
situation, and may have about 20 houses, 
where is a Post-Officc. 

L.F.S.,&Nr C.T. 
Tc'tLY, a Township on the S. line of 
Onondaga County, 14 miles S. of On.inda 
ga, and 50 S. of W. fi-oni Utica ; bound- 
ed N. by Otisco, E- by Fabius, S. by 
Cortlandt Co., W. by Spafford, which was 
erected from the W. half of Tully, in 
181L It is now formed of the N. E. 
quarter of the Mi'ilary Township of 
Tully, the S. half being now Preble, in 
Cortlandt Co. Its waters are small, be- 
ing head streams of Onondaga creek, 
and also of Tioughnioga creek, of Che- 
nango of the Susquehanna. The whole 
is well watered by springs and brooks. 
Like Spafford, this town has ridges of 
hills on the E. and W. boundaries, but 
its vallies are extensive, rich and pro- 
ductive. Tully Flats are much admired. 
They extend from the S. line 3 or 4 
miles, and are 1 to 3 miles wide, and 
proverbially rich. Here are 2 natural 
ponds, of 400, and 100 acres extent, 
from which issue the Tioughnioga creek. 
These flats are 150 miles W. of Albany, 
and 20 S. of Salina. The settlements 
commenced about 1796, and the lands 
are held by right of soil, principally by 
farmers from the Eastern States. In 
1810, the population was 1092, and the 
senatorial electors 67 ; but these aggre- 
gate amounts are now diminislied near- 
ly one half by the erection of the Town 



of Spafford from the W. part, in 1811. 
Tully is now about 5 miles square. 

N.C.T.&R.D.T. 

Tcni?r, a large Post-Township in the 
S. "\V. corner of Lewis County, 15 to 40 
miles X of JRowe, and 143' N. W. of Al- 
bany to the improved part ; bounded N. 
by Martinsburgh, E. by Black river, S^ 
E. by Leydcn, S. by Oaeida Co., W. by 
Redfield, in Oneida Co. This Town at 
present comprises 7 Townships ; Pomo- 
na and Lacretja, adjoining Black river, 
.and on which are the settlements; 
and Flora, Xenophon, Rurabella, Hybla, 
and Penelope, unsettled. These names 
are found on the Maps of the Surveyor- 
General. The settled part is about 9 
miles along Black river and ' back. The 
inhabitants are emigrants from the East- 
ern S^tates, farmers, of plain domestic 
habits. There are 9 school-houses, in 
which are also held the meetings for 
worship. This tract has several mill- 
streams, and the Black river i.s boatable 
from the High falls near the S. line of 
Turin, to Champion, 45 miles. Fisli 
creek, rises in this Town, and runs S. to 
Wood creek of the Oneida Lake. The 
High falls of this river are worthy of -t 
minute description, and the attention of 
travellers. The water falls 70 feet. 
The whole population in 1810, 856, and 
the senatorial electoi'S 111 ; in 1812, 170. 
The Black river road from Johnsto>vn 
leads through tliis settlement, which 
has an excellent soil, and in which are 2 
grain-mills, 6 saw-mills, a carding-ma- 
chine, and 2 distilleries of grain and 
fruit spirits. 

L.C. 

TAPPANjPostOfficC, see ORAXG^TOWJf, 

Taylor's Springs, see Saratoga T. 
Tarrt-Towbt Village and Landisg^ 

see GREEJfSBTJRGH. 

Throg's Neck, see WestChester. 

Tidbits', or Greex Islaxb, termi- 
nates nearly opposite Troy, and is form- 
ed by the waters of the Mohawk. It is 
about one and a half mile in length, 
extending fi-om the middle branch or 
sprout of the Mohawk, which separates 
it from Van Schaick's Island above, ex- 
tending to Waterford. It is very rich 
and fertile. 

Tioga River, a large Western branch, 
of the Susquehanna, rises in the state of 
Pennsylvania ; and running N. enters this 
state in Steuben Co., through which it 
runs N. Eastward to Painted-Post, where 
it meets the Conhocton, then turns S.E^ 
across the S. W. corner of Tioga Co., 
and leaves this state about 3 miles be 



316 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



fore it meets the E. branch of the Sus- 
quehanna, at Tiog-a Point, in Pennsylva- 
nia. Its who'e course in this state is 
about 50 miles, beatable throug;hout, as 
are many of its branches in the above 
Counties, wluch see. They are enume 
rated pag-e 11. 

Tioga Countt, see pag-e 108. 

TioroHNior.A Creek, rises in the S 
end ofOnondae^av'ount)', and runs south- 
erly through Cortlandt Co., and across 
the N. E. corner of Broome Co., to the 
Clienang-o. Its wiiole course may be 
about 55 miles, and it receives many 
brandies tliat spread over Cortlandt Co 
Its largest branch is Otselic creek. 

ToxaANOc, Post-Office, see Pitts- 
town. 

ToNNEWAXTA CiiEEK, rises in the S. 
W. part of Genesee County, and runs N. 
to the Village of Batavia, where it turns 
W. across the W. part of Genesee and 
the whole of Niagara 'Co., to Niagara 
river, which it enters opposite the mid- 
dle of Grand Island, about 10 miles be- 
low Black Rock, and the same distance 
above Schlosser. It is 80 yards wide at 
tlie mouth, and boatable about 30 miles 
into the country. It is a deep slug-g^isli 
stream, and receives Ellicott's creek 
near its mouth. Its vi'hole course may 
be near 90 miles. It has a bridge across 
it near its mouth. A. P. 

Trout Creek, is a southern branch of 
Salmon creek, in Fianklin County, on 
which are mills in Ezraville, Dickinson, 
and Constable. It is a good mill-stream. 
Themaix ViLLAfiE, has a Post-Office 
of the same name, situated in Ultsses, 
Seneca Countyo 

TllOirPVILEE, see S0I)T7S. 

Tr'jxblehead Fall, see Sckoon Lake 
and llivER. 

TrscARORA, a Village inhabited by a 
Tribe of Indians of the Tuscai'ora Na- 
tion, consisting of about 300 souls, in 
the county of Niagara, about two and a 
half miles E. of Lewiston. They have 
a good meeting-house, and a Clergyman 
of the Presbyterian order. There is al- 
so kept at this place, a regular English 
School. They have a number of good 
mechanics of their own nation. These 
Indians are sober and orderly in their 
general deportment, and many of them 
are very respectable in point of proper- 
ty, as well a* moral conduct. This tribe 
came from the S. about 1712, and joined 
the Five Nations, or Iroquois- The land I 
on wliich they now live was given then; 
many years ago by the Senecas. Sei | 
Ca-tibuia. J.li. 



u. 

IJKABILLA, a Post-Township in the 
extreme southern angle of Otsego Coun- 
ty, 34 miles S. W. of Coopersto-un, and 
100 7niles S. of W. from Albany; bound- 
ed N. by Butternuts and Otego, E. by 
Otcgo, S. E. by Susquehanna river or 
the County of Delaware, W. by the Una- 
dilla, or the County of Chenango. Its 
area may be 65 square miles. Tlie sur- 
face is hilly and uneven, but along the 
streams that form the boundaries, as 
also some smaller ones, the land is very 
good and productive. Nor are the 
farming lands confined to tliese tracts ; 
the uplands and hills afford fine grazing 
and meadow lands. There are several 
small streams that aflx)rd mill-scats, of 
which there is an abundant supply. — 
There is a quarry of stones used for grind- 
stones. There ai-e IGsavvmills that pre- 
pare great quantities of lumber for the 
Baltimore market, descending the Sus- 
quehanna in rafts ; 5 grain-mills, an oil- 
mill, and some other water-works, be- 
sides 5 distilleries of whiskey. There 
is 1 Episcopal church, and 14 school hou- 
ses in which schools are kept part of the 
year. The land is held in fee, and while 
the getting of lumber causes too great 
neglect of the soil, it is making destruc- 
tive inroads upon the forest trees that 
ought to remain for future use. In 1810, 
the whole population was 1426, with 116 
senatorial electors, 314 taxable inliabit- 
ants, and 141,896 dollars of taxable pro- 
perty. — UiiadiUa Village., pleasantly si- 
tuated on the Susquehanna, contains an 
Episcopal church and 30 dwellings, be- 
sides stores, &c. — Unadilla has the Ap- 
pian Way turnpike, tliat leads fi-om New- 
burgh to Oxford, and some others that 
lead from Albany to Oxford. 

.T.B.,OB,E.P.,lkS.P. 
TJjfiox, a Post-Township of Broome 
County, 6 miles W. of Chena7igo-Point^ 
140 W. of Catskill, and 150 miies from 
Albany ; bounded N. by Lisle, E by 
Ciiena'ngo, S. by the Slate of Pennsylva- 
nia, W. by Tioga. It is about 16 miles 
long N. and S., with a medial width of 
7 miles. The Susquch.nma river run.s 
centrally across it lo tlie W., and receives 
Nanticoke creek from the N. near tl\e 
U . line. There are stnne smaller streams 
al.so, wliich afford mill-seats. The soil 
is warm and good for grain ; the timber 
principally white pine, wilh some oak, 
&c., on the richest lands, which are a 
warm gravelly loam. Remote from the 
river, say 1 to 3 miles, the maple Knd 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK» 



3l1 



beech lands commence, which are more 
moist, and natural for prrass. Tlie lands 
are principally held in fee, and have been 
settled since about 1790. In 1810, there 
Were 11 saw-mills, 4 .a;rain-mills, and 2 
distilleries of grain and fruit spirits. — 
A meetinii--house, 8 school-houses, 120 
families, 170 taxable Inhabitants, 115 
electors, and the wliole population 987. 
There are 2 Post-Offices, Union, as is 
indicated in calling' it a Post-Township ; 
and J^/anticoke Post-Office, at a settle- 
ment known by that name. Choconut is 
also the name of a settlement, familiarly 
used in this country. C.P.&E.C. 

Ultsses, a Township in the S. E. cor- 
ner of .Seneca County, 14 miles S. E. of 
Ovid, and 180 ^\ . of Albany, witii 2 
Po^t-Offices, Ithaca, and Tremain p. o. ; 
bounded N. by Ovid, N. E. and E. by 
Cayug-.i County, S by Cayuta In Tioga 
Coiniy, W. by Hector. On the E., it 
embraces the half of the south end 
o^ Cnyuga Lake, an extent of eight 
miles, wiiere it receives • ayuga creek or 
the main iniel, Slx-;inle and Fall creeks, 
which furnish abundance of mill-seats in 
this part of tiie Town ; and it has some 
small stre.".ni.s that fall into the W. side 
and supply mdi-seats in the N. part of 
the Town. Tl>e south part is hilly, and 
the soil if»ss valuable tlwin the north, 
which is safficienily level with a very 
good soil, llhas been settled since 1789, 
at liist by Yankees,* and since by Dutch 
froai New-Jersey. There is 1 Methodist 
mteiing-honse, and a Congregation of 
^Presbyterians. I'hcre are lO grain-mills, 
13 suu- -mills, 3 fulling-mills, an oil-mill, 
and 3 carding-niachiHes. Tliere is a 
turnpike from Ithaca to Geneva. The 
lands are held b}' right of soil. This 
Town has considerable wliite pine, very 
valuable because scarce in tJiis County, 
and it descends the Lake with great fa- 
cility to Cayuga and liie lower lovvns on 
the Seneca river. Ithaca is a handsome 
Post-Village, situated in the forks of 
Fall and Six-mile creeks, at the S. end 
of Caytiga Lake, 29 miles N. of Owego, 
18 S E. of Ovid, and 178 W. of Albany. 
J't has 40 houses, several mills, and a 
considerable and increasing trade. Tre- 
main Village is 11 miles N. \V. of Ithaca 
on tlie turnpike to Geneva, has a Post- 
Office of the same name, and 10 or 12 
houses, with some mills- J.S. 

* Why not -wnte as -well as speak this 
'word, in common use, and perfectli/ ^uell 
understood as the name of the JVeiv-Eiig- 
land people ? 



Utrecht, or New-Utrecht, a Town^ 
ship of Kings County, at the W- end ot' 
Long-Island, opposite the Narrows, 9 or 
10 miles S. of the Citv of New-York j 
bounded Northerly by Brooklyn and 
Flatbush, E. by Gravesend, W. and S. by 
New- York river and by Gravesend bay or* 
the Atlantic Ocean. Along tiie Narrows 
it is hilly and stony, and' on the N. are 
some considerable hills ; but the interior 
part is level, and the soil alight loam or 
sand. Utrecht shad fishery is in this 
Town and Gravesend, and is one of the 
most celebrated fisheries in the United 
States; 10,000 shad have been taken at 
one draught. For the soil, and products 
of agricidture, see Gravesend, as also 
for the period of first settlements.— 
Bath, a pleasant spot on the beach of 
Gravesend bay, 10 miles from N. York, 
is rnuch resorted to in summer for sea^ 
batliing, and the pleasures of hunting, 
fishing, &c. Utrecht Village is hand- 
somely situated on a fine plain, and has 
about 40 houses, and a Dutch Reformed 
church. In 1810, the whole popidation 
of this Town was 907, with 89 electors j 
the taxable property 215,765 dollars. 
The woody ridges that border this Town 
on the N. toward Brooklyn, form the 
extreme W. end of the spine of Lon^-, 
Island, wliieh extends E. along the ^. 
siJe of the Great Plains through Queen.'? 
and Suffolk Counties, terminating in 
Southold. These heights were the scene 
of important events of the Revolution • 
arv war, and the Tourist Is shewn many- 
spots in this vicinity so consecrated to 
future remembrance. At Bath, we are 
shewn the spot where the British army- 
landed on this Island in 1776, after a 
i'ew d.ays rest on Staten-Island, wliera 
they debarked on their arrival in th'*" 
British fleet. 

S.L.M.,S:J.C.V, 
Ulster Coustt, see page 109. 
Union Village, in the Township of 
Nassau, Rensselaer County, is situated 
on the turnpike to New-Lebanon, 11 1-2 
miles about S, E. from Albany. It ha.<i 
about 50 houses and stores, a church and 
a Post-Office of the same name, and is 
incorporated as a Village. It is hand- 
somely seated in a pleasant vale of rich 
farming land, which is traversed by a 
small mill-stream that supplies mills 
just on the N. border of the village. 

J.BT, 
UxTON Village, in Greenwich, Wash- 
ington County, is situated on the Batten- 
kill, ^4 miles N. of Albany, and is incor- 
porated as a Village. It contains 4^ 
41 



318 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



houses and stores, 2 meeting-houses, an 
academy, 2 extensive cotton, and a wool- 
Jen manufactory, several mills, a trip- 
hammer, a very ingenious manufactory 
of files and of cast-steel, and about 

live hundred inhabitants. This is a 

very busy thriving- place, rapidly in- 
creasing in popuhition, improvements 

and business. The cotton factories 

use about 50,000lbs. of cotton wool 
yearly, wliich is wrought into yarn, and 
a considerable variety of cloths. They 
employ 70 hands at the works, and from 
100 to 150 families, who reside in the vi- 
cinity, are constantly employed in weav- 
ing for these establisltments. See Green- 
wich. 

A.F.,W.I.J.,S.M.,8iR.M. 

tJNiOTi Viii-AGE, of Albany County, is 
in the TowTiship of Bern, 21 miies from 
Albany, on the road to Schoharie, from 
which place it is distant 14 miles. It 
contains about 20 dwellings, several 
stores, &c., and a Presbyterian meeting- 
house. A.B. 

Uniox VtLtAGr,, of Clinton County, is 
pleasantly situated on a handsome plain, 
in the Township of Peru, 3 miles N. of 
the bridge across Au Sable River. — 
Here is Peru Post-Office, 150 miles N. 
of Albany, 45 houses and stores, a Qua- 
ker meeting-liouse, and some other 
buildings. 

II.D.L. 

Union Smiings, Post-Office, is in the 
S.W. corner of Aurelius, Cayuga County. 

D.T. 

Uttca, a flourishing incorporated Post- 
Village, the commercial capital of the 
great Western District of this State, 
situated on the S. bank of the Mohawk, 
9o miles westward of Albany, in the 
Town of Wliitestown, Oneida County. 
'I'his Village stands on the site of Old 
Fort Schuyler, 13 miles N E. of Rome, 
anciently Fort Stanwix. See Rome. It is 
handsomely laid out into Streets, squares, 
&c., and was incorporated as a Village, 
in 1798 — named in the caption, Old Fort 
f'chut'ler VaUiffe, and in the act granting 
the certain village privileges, Utica. — 
In April, 1805, this act of the Legisla- 
ture was repealed, and a new one passed 
defining the limits of Utica, and grant- 
ing Corporate Village powers to the in- 
habitants. At present, Utica, though 
small in area, comprises a population of 
1700 souls; has 300 liouscs and stores, 
a Prcbbyterian, and an Episcopal churcli, 
a grammar-school, &.c. There are many 
mills, factories, mechanics' shops, and a 
vast many buildings other than those 



enumerated. There are several print' 
ing-offices, and large book-stores. — 
Weekly papers are published here, and 
widely circulated through the surround- 
ing country. The hotel at Utica, is an 
elegant establishment ; and the many 
fine private mansions of gentlemen of 
taste and opulence, give Utica a charac- 
ter in this respect, worthy a great com- 
mercial Town. The Manhattan Bank 
has established a branch at Utica^ and 
the period is not remote when the mo- 
nied capital and brisk trade of this 
place, will obtain a charter for a Bank 
here, with a great capital.* The soil of 
Utica is fertile, and the situation heal- 
thy and pleasant. Utica is a central 
point for all the principal aventies 
of communication by common roads 
and turnpikes, and forms the key of 
trade and travel between the western 
country and Atlantic ports and Towns, — 
N. Lat. 43" 6'; 1" 12 1-2' W. Lon.from 
New-York. T.R.G.,D.O.&M.H. 



Y. 

VEHJ^rOJV, a Post.Township of Onei- 
da County, about 17 miles W. of Utica, 
through which lies the great road into 
the western part of the State. It is 
bounded N. by Verona, E. by Westmore- 
land and Paris, S. by Augusta, W. by the 
Oneida ci-eek, or the Co. of Madison. 
Its form is irregular, and its area may be 
about 39 square miles. About | of this 
Township is now possessed by the O- 
neida and Tuscarora Indians, and in 
which is their principal settlement. — 
Their numbers, in this Town, may be 
about 700 souls, but they are annually 
decreasing. 

The remaining part of Verona, is oc- 
cupied by about 320 families of indus- 
trious and enterprising white inhabit- 
ants. The first settlement was in 1797, 
and the Town was organized in 1801. — 
Tiie land is fertile, and gently undulat- 
ed with hill and dale, well watered.— 
The Skanando creek, with its numerous; 
branches, abundantly irrigate, and they 
afford many good sites for mills, on 
which are erected 2 grist-mills, 7 saw- 
mills, 2 clothier's works, and 2 carding- 
machines. There are 2 societies of 
Congregationalists, and some Method- 
ists and Baptists, but no houses for 
worship yet erected. There are 10 

* This ivas done in Jnne, 1812, ivith a 
^capital ofl miUion of dollars. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



319 



school-houses, 2 of which are occupied 
by worshipping- assemblies on the Sab- 
bath. In this Town are 10 stores, and 
4 glass-houses, owned by 3 connpajiies, 
2 of which are incorporated. A woollen 
and a cotton factory are about to be 
erected. The progress of improvement 
and population, has been rapid. On the 
Seneca turnpike, are about 100 families ; 
and where that turnpike crosses the Ska- 
nando creek, near the centre of the 
Town, is a pleasant little village, laid 
out on ground owned by A. Van Eps, 
Esq. ; and Van Epsville, is occasionally 
used as a name for this little settlement, 
which seems likely to become a central 
place of business for this Town. Ver- 
non is a part of the original Oneida 
Reservation, and the Oneida Castle, is 
in this Town, situated on the Oneida 
creek, where the Indians have a consi- 
derable Village. It is in contemplation 
to remove obstructions in Oneida creek, 
when it may become beatable to the 
turnpike, at Van Epsville, 8 miles from 
the lake, and save much land carriage. 
Lands held in fee, by purchase from the 
State, and a considerable portion of it 
is yet under mortgage. The inhabitants 
are very industrious, inclining to become 
manufacturers. The glass manufactur- 
ed here, is of a good quality. A part 
of this Town is known by the name of 
Mount-Vernon. In 1810, the whole po- 
pulation was I5I9, with 190 senatorial 
electors. 

J.P.,T.C.,&A.G. 
Vekona, a Township of Oneida Coun- 
ty ; bounded N, by Wood creek, E. by 
Rome and Westmoreland, S. by Vernon, 
W. by Oneida creek and lake, or Madi- 
son County and the lake. It is about 10 
miles W. from Rome, and 20 N. West- 
ward frem Utica. This Township was 
originally a part of the Oneida Reserva- 
tion, was purchased from the Indians 
in 1796, and erected into a Town in 
1802. The surface is level, with consi 
■derable swamps and wet land, and the 
soil very rich : a deep vegetable mold, 
Tariously mixed with black and yellow 
sand, and the whole is abundantly irri- 
gated by small creeks. In this Town are 
also some of the Oneida Indians. Itw'as 
rather deficient in sites for mills, but a 
late purchase of 4000 acres from the In- 
dians, contains several excellent sites, 
some of which are now under progres- 
sive improvement. Tliere are 2 grist- 
mills, 5 saw-mills, and some other ma- 
chinery driven by water. There are 5 
ccliQoi^houseSi 1 society of Congrega- 



tionalists, 2 societies of Baptists, 1 of 
Methodists, and a i&w families of Qua- 
kers. The inhabitants are principally 
farmers, sober and industrious, and the 
whole population may amount to 1100 
souls. In 1808, 136 births, and but 7 or 8 
deaths. The roads are good, and con- 
veniently disposed. Iron-ore is found in 
great abundance, and several furnaces 
are supplied from its beds. Sand, of the 
kind used in the manufacture of glasSj, 
abounds, from which 4 or 5 glass-houses 
are now supplied. Good building-stones 
are quarried with ease, and some mill- 
stones have been made from quarries in 
this Town, which prove of a very good 
quality. In 1810, the whole population 
was 1014, with 151 senatorial electors. 
J.M.,&J.R.T. 

ViHGii,, a Post-Township in the S. 
W. corner of Cortlandt County, 10 miles 
S. of Homer, and 155 miles W. of Alba- 
ny ; bounded N. by Homer, E. by Cin- 
cinnatus, S. by Broome County, W. by 
Dryden in Cayuga County. It is 10 
miles square, being the Township of Vir- 
gil in the Militaiy Tract. The Tiough^ 
nioga crosses the N. E. corner, some 
branches of Fall creek of Cayuga Lake, 
spread over the N. W. part, and a branch 
of Owego creek rises in the S., which with 
some smaller streams supply mill-seats in 
abundance, and the Tioughnioga a good 
boat navigation to the Susquehanna. — 
It has turnpike roads to Ithaca and Ox- 
ford, to the Susquehanna, and to Salina 
in Onondaga County, besides other com- 
mon roads. The soil is very excellent, 
and there are few better tracts of farm- 
ing land. The timber is maple, beech, 
bass, elm, butternut, &c., with some 
pine and hemlock. The lands are held 
by right of soil, and its inhabitants, like 
those of this country in general, are ma- 
king great advances in houshold manu- 
facturing. In 1810, the population was 
913, the senatorial electors 77, and the 
whole amount of taxable property 84,351 
dollars. 

L.F.S.,8iN.C.T. 

VoLNET, a Township of Oneida County, 
50 miles W. of Rome, erected in 1811, to- 
gether wiihScriba,fromFredericksburgh 
now extinct. It is bounded N'. by Mex- 
ico, E. by Constantia, S. and S. W. by 
Oswego river an extept of 28 miles, or 
by Onondaga County. It comprises the 
Townships marked Metz, Brugen, and 
Erlang, on De Witt's Mups, and the S. 
half of Fredericksburgh also. Its surface 
is either very level, or but gently une- 
ven i the soil rich and productive, prin-" 



320 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



eipally a moist loam, and there are some 
small mill-streams. But at the Oswego 
falls, where is a carrying place of one 
mile, there are great advantages for wa- 
ter-works ; and Black creek, which en- 
ters here, has some mill-seats. The set- 
tlements are new, and much of the 
-whole is uncultivated. The population 
in 1810, was returned by the Census at 
328, for Fredericksburgh, now Scriba 
and yolr^ey. But my Correspondents 
compute the population of Volney at 35U 
persons in 1812. A few families have 
been at the carrying place 20 or 22 years, 
but the back parts only began to settle 
in 1806 and 1807. M'hereare 2 saw-miUs, 
and 1 grain-mill. A quarry of most ex- 
cellent grit-stone is opened at Oswego 
falls, which is extensively \:sed for grind- 
stones, turnace and glass-factorv hearths, 
£tc. The land is held in fee- The tnide 
by Oswego river is very great, and the 
carriage of goods and produce around 
the Osv.egd fails, amounts to about 4000 
dollars a year. In 1810, 30,000 barrels 
of salt passed here from Onondaga, ihe 
VilL.ge of Oswego Falls Ijas 12 or 15 
houses, and 2 mills. 

N.C.,BW. 

VAN.ScHAICK^SIsi.ANDjSee WATlillVilET. 

ViiDUJiRsiiuKGa, see Amsteedaii. 



WALTOjX, a Post-Township of Dela- 
xvare County, 15 miles S W. of Delhi, 
and about 85 from Albany; bounded 
Northerly b\ Franklin, Easterly by Del- 
hi, Sou'hcriy by Colchester, Westerly 
by Tompkins. It is about 7 miles 
Bcpiare, sitimted on both sides of Goo- 
quago or tlie W. branch of the Delaware 
i-iver. This Town, like all the others 
iii this ( ounty, is mountainous or hilly, 
but along the stieanu are flats of consi- 
der.ible width and a good soil ; andmucli 
of the hil's are arable or meadow lands, 
or, almost without exceptioii, good for 
grazing. It is well watered, and the 
timber is very heavy. Much of this is 
formed into boards, scantling, and other 
kinds of lumber, ind raited voPhiladel- 
. phia. The Ulster and Delaware turnpike 
leads through this Town, as does the Ap- 
piau Way turnpike fromNewhurghjWhich 
crosses the river near the centre of the 
Town, where is the flourishing little 
Village of 'Walton, and the Posi-Office. 
'Pliere is* 1 Presbyterian meeting-Ucuae, 



1 grammar school, and 7 common 
schools. In 1810, the whole population 
was 1311, with 128 electors, 173 taxable 
inhabitants, and 183,357 dollars of taxa- 
ble property. 

R.N.,C.G.,&O.P. 

AVAtLKiLi, a Post-Tovynship of Orange 
Cotmty, 20 miles W. of JVeivburgh, 6 N. 
of Goshen, and 118 miles froni Albany; 
its form is triangular, and it is bounded 
N. Easterly by Montgomery, S. by Bloom- 
ing (i rove, Goshen and Minisink, N. \V. 
by Shawangimk creek or the County of 
Sullivan- Wallkill creek crosses the E. 
part, and this with the boundary stream 
in the W. and some small branches sup- 
ply mill seats. The land is of a good 
quality, and its products embrace all the 
varieties of that region. The Newburgh 
and Cochecton turnpike lead across the 
N. part, and the common roads are nu- 
merous and in good rei)air. There are 
some small villages or small compact 
settlements known by local names, and 
Scotchtowu is the most considerable. — 
There are few tracts in the State, of equal 
area, that aflbrd a gi-eater variety of soil, 
than this and some of the adjoining 
Towns. Hemp is become an article of 
considerable magnitude in the siu-plusi 
products of this County, and the farmers 
are vieing with each other for the best 
success in raising it. lu 1810, the whole 
population was 4213, and there were 
347 senatorial electors. 

N.T. 

WAHwrcK, a Post-Township of Orange 
County, 10 miles S. of Goshen, 120 miles 
S. of Albany, and about 54 N. of New-; 
York; its Ibrm is triangular, with the 
hypothenuse on New-Jersey, being boun- 
ded N. by Minisink and Goshen, E. by 
Munroe, and S. W. by the State of New- 
Jersey. Its area may be 110 square 
miles. The S. is broken by the ranges 
of hills or mountains of the Highlands, 
where are several large ponds that dis- 
charge S. in several streams to the Pas- 
saic of New-Jersey. The N. is less 
broken, and is watered by the Wallkill 
and other streams that run iN. to the 
Hudson in Orange and Ulster Counties. 
This part has a good soil, and is an ex- 
cellent farming tract, though considera- 
bly diversilied in surface and soil. — 
There are large tracts of hemp-lands, in 
the \V., being a part of the Drowned 
Lands of Orange County; and the lime- 
stone, which is very abundant, is of an 
excellent quality and quarries well for 
buililing. Few Towns m the State have 
el greater abundance of fruit, an4theap-< 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



321 



pie-orchards are very fine. There are 5 
houses of worship, and 16 school-hou- 
ses ; — 9 grain-mills, 10 saw-mills, and 6 
carding-machines, and 16 distilleries of 
fruit spirits. The distilleries consume 
200 barrels a day, and yet in bearing 
years, they cannot receive all the surplus 
cider which is offered from the orchards 
of this Town. Sterlinff Iron Works, in 
the S. part, are among ihe most exten- 
sive of this region, which abounds in 
iron-ore and in manufactories of iron in 
various ways. These works have been 
in operation about 60 years, and are the 
oldest in this vicinity. Here are a fur- 
nace, several forges or bloomeries, an 
anchor-shop, the oldest in America, ex- 
cept one in Rhode-Island, and a steel 
furnace is lately erected, which is said 
to make steel of a good quality. 

The Village of Warwick, where is 
the Post-Office of that name, is 11 miles 
S. of Goshen, and 28 from A''etuburgh on 
the Hudson. It has 2 houses of worship, 
and about 30 dwellmgs. Florida Vil- 
lage has a Post-Office of the same name, 
and is situated about 4 1-2 miles N. of 
Warwick. Here is also a church, an 
academy, and about 30 dwellrngs ; and 
Amity in the W., has a cluirch also. 'I'he 
whole population in IS-'O, was 3978, 
when there were 323 electors. War- 
wick has been known by its present 
name since 1720, when a few families 
first settled here ; but its population 
was inconsiderable till about 1760 to 
1765, when the most of the good land 
was bought in fee, by actual farmers, and 
in small tracts. 

J.B. 
Washington, a Post-Township of 
Duchess County, 15 miles N. of E. from 
Poughkeepsie, and 80 south of Albany ; 
bounded N. by Stanford, E. by Amenia, 
S. by Beekman, W. by Clinton. It is 
about 7 miles square, and is watered by 
Wappinger's creek which runs across 
the N. VV. corner, and some small bran- 
ches that supply mill-seats. It is mode- 
rately uneven in general, and in the E. 
and S. E. are Tower-hill and Chesnut 
ridge ; but the soil is good for farming, 
and excels for wheat; being under good 
cultivation- The inhabitants are prin- 
cipally farmers, from Long-Island, and 
from the Eastern States. There are 12 
grain-mills, 2 parding-machines, 2 fuU- 
jng-mills, 3 distilleries, a triphammer, 
?ind a brewery : 9,183 sheep, 3677 cattle, 
and 965 horses. There are 80 looms in 
iamilies, which produ,ced in 1810, 20,750 
yafds of cloth for ctjjnmon clothing 



when the taxable property was valued 
by the Assessors at §608,999. Near the 
centre of this Town, and 15 and a half 
miles from Poughkeepsie, is the hand- 
some Village of JMechanic, containing a- 
bout 20 dwellings, a Quaker meeting- 
house, in which is held a quarterly meet- 
ing, and the Quaker boarding-school. — 
The school-house is 3 stories high, and 
accommodates about 100 scholars. It 
is ail excellent institution, first opened 
for instruction in 1797 ; and there has 
not been a single death in the school 
since its first establishment. 

About 2 miles N. W. from Mechanic, 
is another small village of about 20 hou- 
ses, a woollen factory, and several miils, 
on the E. branch of Wappinger's creek. 
This is called Hartsville,* and it is a- 
bout 16 miles from Poughkeepsie, ou 
the turnpike to Hartford in Connecticut. 
In 1810, the whole population was 2854, 
with 180 electors. 

H.M.D.,W.L.,&C.R. 
AVawarsing, a large I'ownship in the 
S. W. angle of Ulster County, 25 miles 
S. W. of Kingston,- bounded Northerly 
by Rochester, Easterly by Shawangunk, 
Southerly by Sullivan County, and W. 
by Sullivan County. This Town was 
erected m 1806, from the S. W. part of 
Rochester, and lies on the W. of the 
Shawangunk mountain, the line toward 
Shawangunk Township being at tlie E. 
part of that mountain. Rondout kill, a 
fine branch of the Wallkill, runs N. East- 
erly along the W. fi)ot of the mountain, 
aitd receives several branches. Good- 
beer kill, one of the largest, is so called 
from the dark brown color of its water, 
and there are several others. Plumba- 
go, of a good quality, is found here, and 
there are many indications of iron-ore. 
There are several small settlements, as 
at Warwasing, Napenagh and Lurenkill, 
but much of the land is comparatively 
wild. There is 1 ancient Dutch Reform- 
ed church, of stone, and there are 8 or 
10 school-houses. The Honk falls of 
Rondout kill, have a descent of 30 feet, 
almost perpendicular, and there are a- 
bundance of mill-seats. In 1812, the 
whole population was 1335, when there 
were 117 electors ; — and 74 looms in fa- 
milies, which produced 18,047 yards of 
cloth. C.T. 

Watervliet, a large Township in the 
N. E. corner of Albany County, 6 miles 

* Since the above luas written, I an 
informed that a Fost-Office has been es- 
tablished in this Village. 



322 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



IV. of Jllbmiu ; bounded N. bj' the Mo- 
hawk river, or the County of Saratog-a, 
E. by the Hudson, S. by Colonie, and the 
City of Albany. It extends 10 miles 
along the Mohawk and lower sprout of 
that river, and 6 and a half along' the 
liudson, and has an area of about 52 
square miles, exclusive of several Isl- 
ands in the Hudson. Much of the land 
5s poor and barren, and the population 
is very unequally distributed. Along 
the Iludson are some fine flats, and in 
3nany places the river-hills are of a mo- 
derate steepness, and present good farm- 
ing lands. The interior has muck of 
sandy ridges and some marshes and wet 
land, wooded with pine and a variety of 
dwarf shrubbery, of little value. In the 
S. E. is Mill-creek, which enters the 
Hudson on the N. line of Calonie, and 
supplies some mills, with Caldwell's fac- 
tory also. See Albany, for a descrip- 
tion of these works. The mansion-house 
of Maj. General Stephen Van Rensse- 
laer, is in the S. E. corner, just on the 
"N. bank of this creek, and on a hand- 
some flat extending to the Hudson. The 
road to Troy and the N. country lies 
along the valley of the Iludson, on which 
there are two small Villages in this town ; 
Wasltinqton, 5 miles N. of Albany, and 
Gibbons Ville, ojiposite Troy, 6 miles. 
About 3 miles N. of Gibbons Ville, there 
is a bridge across the Mohawk, a short 
distance below the Cahoos Falls, which 
see. The roads are numerous in the in- 
terior, but they are i-ather paths than 
highways. A turnpike has lately been 
opened from Gibbons Ville to Schenec- 
tady ; which extends W. through this 
Town, and promises to be of conside- 
rable importance. The Cahoos, being 
the principal falls of the Mohawk, are 
between Watervliet and Halfmoon, in 
Saratoga Co. The whole waters of the 
Blohawk descend in one sheet, at high 
water, about 70 feet ; and present a view 
as grand and majestic as it is wild 
and picturesque, when connected with 
the surrounding scenery. The Islands 
formed by the spreading branches be- 
low the falls, are also attached to this 
Town. The Mohawk enters the Hud- 
son in 4 branches, or sprouts, as they 
are commonly called, the upper at Wa- 
terford, and the lower one opposite 
Troy, 3 \ miles in a right line below. 
leaver Island, is about a half mile broad, 
and a little more than that in length E. 
and W., lying between the 4th and 3d 
branches immediately below Waterford. 
Vm Sihaick's Island, next bc,low', is be- 



tween the 3d and 2d branches, opposite 
Lansingburgh, and extends 1 1 mi!e in 
length, being about a half mile broad. 
This is also called Cahoos Island. The 
American Army was stationed on this 
Island, immediately before it advanced 
under General Gales, in 1777, to meet 
Burgoyne. And Haver Island had a 
number of breast-workss thrown up at 
that time, which are still to be seen. li 
was intended to attempt a stand hercj 
as a last resort against the British Ar- 
my. These 2 Islands are owned by a 
branch of the ancient family of Van 
Schaick. Green Island, lies betweei^ 
the 2d and 1st branches, opposite Troy, 
and is near 2 miles long, and half mile 
wide. In the vicinity of the Cahoos, is 
a Dutch Church and farming neighbor.- 
hood, commonly called the Boght. Gib- 
bons Ville is pleasantly situated on a 
handsome flat, and contains about IS 
houses. Here is also a bell-foundery, 
with a considerable variety of works in 
brass, plating, &c. Several small brass 
cannon have been lately made here, on a 
contract with the state of Connecticut. 
Surveyor's Compasses, of superior con- 
struction and workmanship are made 
here, and I have seen some samples of 
plated wares, done in a very superior 
style. There are in this town 1092 
white males, 3070 white females, 128 
slaves, and 75 other persons ; in all 2365 ; 
and there are 215 senatorial electors- 
There are 5 grain-mills, and 4 sawmills. 
The lands are principally held by lease 
from the Proprietor of the Manor of 
Rensselaer. Considerable efforts have 
been made to discover coal, where sup- 
posed indications of that mineral are 
found on the flats back of the Village of 
Washington. But unfortunately these 
effbrta are not yet attended with better 
success than those at Gbbenbcsh, which 
see. The Settlement of the people cal- 
led Shakers, is in the N. W. part of this 
Town, at a place called Niskayuna, 8 
miles N. W. of Albany. They have a 
house of worship, and the village con- 
tains about 150 houses. 

Since the above was written, a man- 
ufactory of i^crews of iron, for wood- 
work, erected on the lower sprout of the 
Mohawk, near the Cahoos bridge, has 
got into successful operation. Works 
are about to be added for drawing the 
wire from which the screws are formed, 
when the iron will be taken in the bar, 
and manufactured into screws, now made 
of foreign wire. The machinery is all 
diuven ^!jy water, and said to be very 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



323 



-ingenious, the invention of a self-taught 
artist, Mr. Wm. C. Penniman. Some 
samples of the screws which I have seen, 
appear to be well formed, and they are 
cut with great dispatch. These works 
are owned by an incorporated company, 
with a sufficient capital, and are situat- 
ed directly opposite Lansingburgh, and 
about 2 miles below Waterford. 

A.V.S.,&L.W.— 1813. 
■Watertowk, a Post-Township, the ca- 
pital of Jefferson County, and a place of 
deposit for the military stores of the State 
of New- York. It lies near the mouth of 
Black river, Leghorn, on De Witt's Maps, 
and is about 80 miles N. W. of Utica, 
and 12 from Sacket's harbor. Water- 
town was first erected into a Town 
JMarch 11, 1810, from a part of Mexico, 
then in Oneida Co., and comprised, also, 
Rutland and Hounsfield ; Milan and He- 
siod, on De Witt's Maps. Its extent is 
about 6 miles square, bounded N. by 
Black river, E. by Rutland, S. by Rod- 
man, W. by Hounsfield. The first set- 
tlements commenced in 1798, but its 
remote situation from other settle- 
ments, and want of roads, retarded 
its population for several years. The 
principal part of the land is under actual 
improvement. Tlie inhabitants are prin- 
cipally emigrants from the Eastern 
States. There are about 20ndwelUng-hou- 
ses, 8 school-houses, a court-house and 
jail, a mark lodge and an arsenal is now 
iDuilding for the military stores of the 
state. There are 8 grist and saw-mills, 
1 paper-mill, 1 wool-carding machine, 5 
distilleries, 2 breweries, a printing-office 
and a weekly paper, a small air-furnace 
now building, and a large number of 
common mechanics. Limestone, whicli 
quarries well, is plenty. The waters of 
the Black river, communicate with Lake 
Ontario, and open a good boat naviga- 
tion to Montreal, the principal market 
for the produce of this country. Few, if 
any Towns in the N. western parts of 
this State, combine so many advantages, 
or seem likely to become places of as 
much business, wealth and activity. — 
The State road from Utica to Kingston 
ferry, leads through this Town. Pot and 
pearl-ashes are manufactured in great 
abundance, and sent in boats to Montre- 
al from the Landing, 4 miles below the 
village. The relics of ancient settle- 
ments in this country, veiy mucli a- 
bound, as do the remains of former 
works. But the implements are evident- 
ly of French origin, and probably not so 
ancient as many people imagine ; though 



the coarse Indian earthen-ware may he 
very ancient. In the N. part of the 
Town, immediately on the bank of Black 
river, a flourishing village is eligibly si- 
tuated. Population, by the Census of 
1810, 1849 souls. There are 308 sena- 
torial electors, 

Watehtowjt, or Jufperson^ Viliace, 
a flourishing Post-Village of Watertown, 
Jefferson County, on the S. bank of 
Black river, 4 miles from Brownville, and 
the same distance from navigable water 
communicating with Lake Ontario.— 
Elere are the County buildings, consist- 
ing of a handsome court-house and jail, 
and a State arsenal now building, within 
the Village, beside a Mark Lodge, a pa- 
per-mill, 2 grist-mills, 3 saw-mills, 1 or 
two carding-machines and fulling-mills, 
and an air-furnace now building. The 
Village contains about 50 dwelling-hou- 
ses, some quite elegant, handsomely fin- 
ished and painted, 6 stores, 2 breweries, 3 
tanners works, a printing-press which is- 
sues a weekly paper, and a great variety of 
mechanics. Nearly opposite the village 
the Black river falls about 20 to 24 feet 
perpendicularly, and continues very ra- 
pid for 3 or 4 miles, and is thence 
smooth to the Lake. Jefferson, there- 
fore, enjoys great advantages for waterr 
machinery, is within 4 miles of boatable 
water to the Lake, and but 10 from good 
navigation on the Lake. A quarry of 
good building limestone, and clay, and 
sand, abound in the vicinity of the Vil- 
lage. Pine, and other timber, plenty. 
In short, it is a busy thriving place, and 
the public improvements, the state of 
the roads, bridges, &c., of this and the 
sui-rounding Towns, together with the 
improved state of the farms, and every 
field for enterprize and industry, do ve- 
ry great credit to the inhabitants. 

J.C.,P. H.,H.M., J.S.&W.S. 

Warken, a Post-Township in the S.E. 
corner of Herkimer County, 10 miles S. 
of Herkimer, 15 N. of Otsego, and 70 W. 
of Albany ; bounded N. by German Flats, 
E. by Montgomery and Otsego Coimties, 
Southerly by Otsego County, W. by 
Litchfield. The situation is elevated^ 
just at the head of the Lakes that form 
the Susquehanna, and the surface hand- 
somely undulated by arable hills, and 
rich and fertile vallies. And there are 
many small cedar swamps, that supply 
fencing timber. The rocks are calcare- 
ous, or a calcareous sandstone, and much 
of the soil is a rich calcareous mold. — 
As is usual in limestone tracts, there 
are large springs, chasms and clefts i,u 



324 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



the rocks, and a mass of curious and 
singular appearances in the stones. One 
©f these springs is of sufticient volume 
to tui-n a grist-mill within 80 rods of the 
fountain. The waters of this Town are 
smidl, but there are 5 grain-mills, 9 saw- 
mills, a carding-machine, fr>rge and trip- 
hammer. Tliere is one meeting-house, 
built by joint subscription of Lutherans, 
Calvinists and Presbyterians, and a com- 
petent number of common school-hou- 
ses. Iron-ore is found, and a pigment 
:ft-om winch is prepared a durable brown 
paint. In the S. E- corner are 2 small 
ponds that discharge into Otsego Lake, 
and here is a small Village. It is situ- 
ated on tlie 3d Great Western turnpike, 
<i4 miles from Albany. This Town had 

4 or 5 German families settled here pri- 
or to the Revolution, but the principal 
settlements have been made within the 
last 20 years. In 1810, Warren had 664 
lamilies, 444 senatorial electors, and 
5974 persons in I'll ; the taxable proper- 
ty amounted to §291,659. 

W.D'W.&lE.C. 

Warsaw, a Post-Township of Genesee 
County, 20 miles S. of Batavia, and 260 
miles from Albany ; bounded N. by Ba- 
tavia, E. by Liecester, S. by A-llegany 
Count}-, W! by Attica. It is a good tract 
of land, and comprises 3 Townships, 
Kos. 8, 9, 10, in the 1st Range of the 
Holland purchase. Allan's creek, a fine 
branch of Genesee river, winds N. thro' 
this Town, where it receives several 
branches that supply mill-seats. The 
surface is considerably broken in the S., 
or on No 8, but it is said to be well wa- 
tered, and there is a great diversity of 
soil. Travellers, and my Correspon- 
dents, describe this country as peculiar- 
ly liable to frost. In 181 0, the taxable 
property of Warsaw, as valued by the 
Assessors, amounted to S80,224, and 
there were then 201 senatorial electors. 
The whole population was 1317. 

N.C.,R.S.&U.P. 

Watne, a large Township in the N.E. 
part of Steuben County, 15 miles E. of 
Bath, and 35 S. of Geneva, called Fred- 
erickstowu till 1808; bounded N. by On- 
tario County, E. by Re.ading and a part 
of Tioga County, S. by Painted-Post, 
"W. bv Bath and Pultcney. It has a Post- 
OfTicc, called Roscojnmon, and comprises 
Townsliips No. 4, 5, and 6, in the tst 
Range ; the half of 4 and about half ot 

5 in' the 2d llange, with the point of 
land in the fork of Crooked Luke, on 
which it is bounded. Crooked Lake, the 
half of which is in this Town, dischaig- 



es into Seneca Lake ; and Mud pond, 
within 2 miles of this on the E., dischar- 
ges a boatable stream S. to the Conhoc- 
ton of tlie Tioga of the Susquehanna. 
There are some other small streams that 
supply sites for mills. Mud creek has 
mills within one mile of the pond, and 
from these boats and arks descend to 
the Conhocton, about 9 miles, in which 
distance are 6 saw and some other mills. 
Tlie S. part is hilly, as it is also along 
Crooked Lake, but the central part and 
all the remainder arable and productive 
land. The timber is oak, walnut. Sec, 
with some pine on the hills. There is 
a congregation of Baptists, but no meet- 
ing-house yet erected, though meetings 
are held in the school-houses, of which 
there is a pretty competent number. — 
The settlement commenced about 1794, 
but has principally been made within 10 
years past, and the population is now 
rapidly increasing. The who'e present 
population is 1025, and the senatorial 
electors 57. There is a road from Bath 
to Ontario Co\uity, leading along the E. 
shore of Crooked Lake, and a turnpike 
is granted to Geneva, on the same route 
— but whether yet opened, I do not 
learn. 

B.W.,D.C.&N.C.T. 
West-Cuesteb, a Post-Township at 
the S. W. extremity of Westchester 
County, on East river, 12 miles from 
New-York, and 152 miles S. of Albany ; 
bounded N- by Yonkers and E. Chester, 
E. by E. Chester Bay or Long-Island 
Sound, S. by the same narrowing to East 
river, AV- by Haarlem river, or the Coun- 
ty of New-York. Its form is defined by 
waters on 3 sides, anel of course irregu- 
lar, but its medial extent N. and S. may 
be 4 miles, and E. and W. about 5; with 
an area of 20 square miles — a large 
Township for Westchester County. It 
is a valuable tract of land, stony in ge- 
neral, witli a 1 ge proportion of clayey 
loam, a soil that, with good husbandry, 
is rendered very productive. T/jro^'s 
AVc^, at the S.E. extremity, is connect- 
ed with the main by a long causey or 
causeway, thj-ough a marshy tract of 
considerably extent. West-Farms Post- 
Office, lately established, is in the Vil- 
lage of }]'est-l''(irms, pleasantly situated 
at the head of navigation on Bronx 
creek, 3 miles from its mouth in tl>e 
Souiul. This Village is 12 miles from 
New-York, on the main eastern post- 
road, and consists oi about 50 houses, 
besides a scliool-house, and several ma- 
nufactories. Among the-^e a snufi'-mill. 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



325 



paper-mill, a grist, merchant, and bar- 
ley-mill, a pottery of Delft ware, an ex- 
tensive set of paint works, and an oil- 
jnill, are noticed by my Correspondents ; 
and all these works are said to employ 
about 200 persons. The Village con- 
tains between 3 and 400 inhabitants. — 
West-Chester Village is situated at the 
head of navig'ation on W. Cliester creek, 
where is a bridg'e, and contains about 
25 dwellings, an Episcopal church, and a 
Quaker meeting--house, besides a schoo - 
house, a grist-mill, and near 200 inhabi- 
tants. A bed of marble has lately been 
opeuf^d ; and an extensive common, 
which had been of little use, is recently 
appropriated to the support of common 
schools. There are several manufac- 
tories in this Tov,n — a snuff-mlH, pa- 
pei^jmill, linseed oil-mill, a press for 
making castor-oil from the bean, and a 
paint manufactory. There are also 2 
grain-niills, one of which is a tide-mill. 
There are 3 houses of worship ; one for 
Quakers, one for Episcopalians, and one 
l)utch Lutheran ; — there are 6 school- 
houses. — This Town lias manv elegant 
eountry-seats ; and that of JMurrissania, 
the residence of the Hon. Gouverneur 
Morris, is highly spoken of by travel- 
lers and other persons of taste. Its si- 
tuation is very elegant, just in the S.W. 
angle of this Town, nearly opposite 
Hurl -Gate, 8 miles from New- York, com- 
manding an extensive and picturesque 
view of the adjacent waters and sur- 
rouuding country. In 1810, the whole 
jpopulHtion of this Town was 19(59, when 
there were 105 electors, 215 taxable in- 
habitants, and the taxable property, as 
Valued by the Assessors, amounted to 
§737,385. In 1788, the whole State of 
New-York was divided into Counties 
and Towns, when a part of the present 
Town of West-Chester was erected into 
a Town called Morrissanla, which divi- 
sion continued to 1791, when the latter 
was incorporated with West-Chester. — 
Kings bridge, across Haarlem river near 
the N. end of New-York Island, is just 
within the line, at the N. W. corner of 
this Town. 

G.M.,J.W.,S.D.&J B.G. 
Westfielb, a Township of Richmond 
County, at the S. western extremity of 
Staten-Island, 3 1-2 miles S.W. of Rich- 
■mond Village ; bounded N. by Northfield, 
E. by Southfield, S. by Raritan Bay of 
the Atlautit, W. by Staten-Island Sound 
or the State of New- Jersey. In the S. 
W. ia a ferry of 3 quarters of a mile to 
Amboy in New-Jersey. Prince's t^y, in 



the S., so noted for oysters, is not e- 
nough known to mariners. Vessels, 
bound for ^ew-York, and headed by a 
N. E. storm, may put in here with per- 
fect ease, and ride out the storm in safe> 
ty. The roads are numerous, and at the 
head of Fresh kills in the N., is Gilford's 
'.ane. There is one chui-ch near the cen- 
tre, and the land is under pretty good 
cultivation. Along the Fresh kills are 
meadows of considerable extent. The 
whole population of this Town in 1810, 
was 1444, with 139 electors. J. P. 

Westford, a Township of Otsego 
County^ 8 miles S. E. of Cooperstotun, 
erected from the N. W. part of Worces- 
ter in 1808; bounded N. by Cherry-Val- 
ley, E, by Decatur, S. by Maryland, W. 
by Middlefield. It has the N. branch of 
Shenevas creek, and some other small 
waters. The surface is broken by hills 
and vallles, but has much rich mold in 
the vallles, while the hills are fine for 
grazing, with many tracts of meadow 
land. The timber consists of maple» 
beech, ash, elm, basswood and pine, and 
the whole is abundantly irrigated by 
springs and brooks. There are 2 or 3 
grain and saw-mills, and some other 
small works. In 1810, he whole popu! 
lation was 1215, with 73 electors, 177 
taxable inhabitants, and §78,318 of tax- 
able property. 

N.C.T.,B.G.&E.P. 

Westmorelaxi), a Post-Township of 
Oneida County, 10 miles W. of Uticaj 
8 S. of Iio7ne, and 107 miles from Alba- 
ny ; bounded N. by Rome, E. by Whites- 
town, S. by Paris, W. by Vernon and 
Verona. Its waters are small ; and it 
only extends to Oriskany creek for a few- 
miles on the E., having also Deane's and. 
Sucker brooks, very small mill-streams. 
The surface is vei-y level, rather deficient 
of water, but the soil is very rich and 
fertile. This Town was first settled by 
James Deane, Esq., an interpreter among 
the Oneida Indians, who gave him a 
tract of land in this Town of two miles 
square. It has the Seneca turnpike 
across the S. part, and some other roads.. 
The northern part i.« comparatively un- 
improved, but the S. has much of farm- 
ing opulence. The land is held by 
right of soil. There is a church for 
Congregationalists, with a settled prea- 
cher, and a competent number of com- 
mon schools. In 1818, the population 
was 1135, and the senatorial electors 
141. Hampton Post-Office is in this TowRj 
11 miles from Whitesborough. 

N.C.T.&B.W. 

4^ 



326 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YOHK. 



Western, a Township of Oneida Coun- 
ty, 20 miles from Utica, and 8 N. of 
jtome ,• bounded N. by Boonville, E. by 
Steuben, S. by Floyd and Rome, W. by 
BiCe, which was ei-ected from the W. 
part in 1811. It is watered by small 
head branches of Mohawk river, and hus 
plenty of mill-seats. The soil, surface 
and ])roducts, similar to Steuben and 
the adjoining- Towns. The population 
in 1810, 2416, and there were 275 sena- 
torial electors. The lands are very pro- 
ductive and well cultivated. The inha- 
bitants enjoy much wealth, and are prin- 
cipally clad in dress of houshold manu- 
factui'e. There are no great leading 
roads, but the common Town roads are 
sufficiently numerous. Lee, erected from 
the W. part, now includes a considera- 
ble share of the above population, but 
what part, I am not accurately inform- 
ed. See Lee, 

N.C.T. 

Wells, a Township of Montgomery 
County, erected in 1805 from the N. part 
of Northampton and Mayfield, 20 to 70 
miles a little E. of N. from Johnstown ; 
bounded N. by Franklin Count)', E. by 
Essex, Washington, and a small part of 
Saratoga County ; S. by Northampton 
and Mayfield, W. by Johnstown. It is 
about 55 miles long, and 8 miles wide. 
The Sacandaga waters the S. part, the 
sources of the Hudson spi-ead over the 
northern part, which also sends some 
waters througli Racket river to the St. 
Jjawrence in St. Lawrence County. The 
country is rough and mountainous, the 
soil light, sanely and bar."en. It has nu- 
merous small lakes and ponds, which 
abound with trout and other cold blood- 
ed fish, fine for food as for sport for the 
angler. Its extensive forests are cloth- 
ed with evergreens of pine, hemlock, 
spruce, larch or tamarack, and abound 
with marshes of dwarf shrubbery, cran- 
berry bushes and higli SL-dge-grass. — 
This extensive tract was first made the 
:Lbode ot a lamiiy in 1792. There are 
some tracts of deciduous trees, such as 
ash,, maple, beech, elm, basswood, but 
these arc speckled with hendock. Pe- 
:';eeke lake bears the name of an Indian, 
;jk1 Lake Pleasant is a pleasant lake, 
With a fine beach of white sand. 

W.W.,J.W.6cJ.M. 

Whitehall, (formerly called Skenes- 
borough,) a Post-Township of Washing- 
ton County, at the head of Lake Cham- 
plain, about 65 miles N. easterly from 
Albany.. Its medial length is about 10 
miles N. aod. S., and 7 wide; bounded 



Northerly by E. Bay and Poultney river, 
being the boundary line between New- 
York and Vermont ; E. by Hampton, S. 
by Granville and Fort-Anne, (formerly 
Wesififild,) W. by S. Bay, Fort-Anne and 
the Town of Putnam. The Town of 
Whitehall was first erected in 1788, with 
its present boundaries. The soil is prin- 
cipally a stiff c'ay, and most natural to 
grass. Wood creek and Pawlet river 
unite in this Town, and afford some 
good mill-seats, and considerable facili- 
ties of ti'ade and boat navigation. The 
under stratum of rocks seem principally 
shistic, though marble is found, and 
limestone. Iron-ore has been found, but 
no mine of it is yet wrought ; and some 
few grains of silver-ore have been found- 
A" small mineral spring, not unusual in 
slate-stone countries, has been laftely 
found, and is probably a weak chalybe- 
ate, with sulphuretted hydrogene.— 
Whitehall has one Congregational meet- 
ing-house, one Presbyterian, one Baptist 
and a congregation of Methodists, with 
a competent number of common schools. 
There are 2 gi-ist^mills, 5 saw-mills, one 
fulling-mill and one carding-machine. 
Whitehall, an incorporated Post-Vil* 
lage, at the N. end, has considerable 
trade, and is situated principally on the 
W. bank of Wood creek, at its entrance 
into Lake Champlain, 71 miles N. east- 
erly from Albany. It contains about 5S 
houses, 2 or 3 retail stores, 2 or 3 mills, 
and 5 store-houses for the accommoda- 
tion of the trade on the Lake. The si- 
tuation is low, and on almost solid rock, 
with a very thin covering of earth. — 
Situated at the head of the navigation 
of Lake Champlain, whence sloops of 40 
to 80 tons descend to St. John's, a dis- 
tance of 160 miles, this Lauding natu- 
rally concentrates 'die trade of a consid- 
erable extent of surrounding country. 
In February, 1812, I found 7 sloops Ij'- 
ing at this place, 5 of which were own- 
ed here, and of 39 to 80 tons burthen. 
About :; mile from the Village, a hand- 
some Presbyterian church has been e- 
rected, from the donation of John Wil- 
liams, Esc),, of Salem, who gave also an 
adjoining i'arsonage of 60 acres of land, 
to the society. The usual time of a trip, 
to and from St. John'.s, 10 days. From 
Whitehall to Ticonderoga is 25 miles ; 
Chimney Point, 15 ; "Burlington, 60 ; 
Plattsburgh, 12 ; equal to 112 miles ;-;- 
and from Plattsburgh to St. John's, in 
Lowei -Canada, is 43 miles. I'he whole - 
population, by the Census of 1810, 2110, 
witli 178 electors. N.C 



GAZEITEER OF NEW- YORK. 



32^ 



Whitestowjt, the principal Town, 
and half shire of the County of Oneida, 
situated on the Mohawk river, 95 miles 
N. westerly from Albany, incUidin;^ Uti- 
ca, &c., and has 3 Post-Offices : bound- 
ed Northerly by the Mohawk, Easterly 
by Herkimer County, Southerly by Pa- 
ris, Westerly by Westmoreland and 
Rome. The foim is very irregular, and 
the area about equal to 40 square miles, 
if we trace the progressive population 
of this Town minutely, we shall find 
much to excite our admiration. In Ja- 
nuary, 1785, Mr. Hugh White,* from 

* Since the above luns yvritten, the death 
of this venerable man has been ari7ioimced ] 
in the papers. The following obituarj/ jio- 
tice, -with accompa^iymg remarks, appear- 
ed in the Utica Patriot on that eveiit, and 
they are so pertinent, a7id of such im- 
portance, that I insert them here- 

*' Died, at Whitestoivn, on the 16th, 
1812, Hugh White, Esq., aged 80 years- 
and on the i8th inst. his funeral was at- 
tended by his mimernus descendants and 
connexions, and an nnusual concourse of 
the most aged and respectable inhabitants 
of thi^ County. 

The death of this venerable maji ex- 
cites many interesting reflections. He may 
Justly be considered as the Patriarch -who 
first led the children of jYeuu-England in- 
to the -iuilderness ; and it may be trzily 
said, that he has lived to see and enjoy 
the promised land. 

In the year 1784 he removed loith his 
family from JHiddletoivn, in Connecticut, 
to Sedaghquate, f^iotu IVhitesborougli 
Village ;J -which, till then, had been the 
gloomy abode of ivild beasts and savage 
men. 

Judge White was the first tuho dared 
to overleap the German settlements on the 
Jilohawk ; and to encounter the hardships, 
privations and dangers of the -western 
itiilds. 

During the first four years after his es- 
tab\ishment at Sedaghquate, the progress 
of settlements around him was slow and 
discouraging. In 17B8 the Town of Ger- 
manflats was divided ; and a nevj Town 
established, which, in honor of this enter- 
prizing man, was named " Whiteslown." 

Whitestown then contained less than 200 
inhabitants i and included all that part of 
the State of JVew-iork which now con- 
sists of the Counties of Oneida, Lewis, 
Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Madison, Che- 
nango, Broome, Tioga, Cortlandt, Onon- 
daga, Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Steuben, 
Allegany, Genesee, jXiagara, Catarau- 



Connecticut, with a young family, be- 
came the first settler. At that period, - 
little was known of the value and fertiW 
ityofthe western wilds of this state; 
and industry and enterprize were de- 
pressed by individual and national po- 
verty. For the first 5 or 6 years, thtf 
increase of population was slow, and of 
little promise. But at about the expi- 
ration of that period, the spirit of emi- 
gration appeared in the Eastern States, 
which has since swelied to a torrentj 
and thousands and thousands who now 
enjoy the rich bounties of nature in the 
western country, are indebted to this 
source for their many blessings. No 
people on earth possess the means of a 
greater share of individual happiness 
than those; — nor can a competency, de- 
rived from any other employment, con- 
fer so much happiness, as that of the in- 
dustrious agriculturalist, in a genial 
climate, blest with a fertile soil and a 
good government ; — such is the consti- 
tuiion of man and society, when coUeC" 
tively considered. Let civilians theo- 
rise as they may, it is in such scenes, 
and under such circumstances, that man 
assumes his proper dignity in tlie scale 
of being ; and, possessed of such means 

gus, and Chatauqxia, which Counties, ac- 
cording to tlie Census of 1810, 7i07u con- 
tain two hundred and eighty thousand 
three hundred and nineteen inhabitants. 

This astonishing and unparalleled pro~ 
gress of settlements, has not been effected 
by colonies seat out and supported by the 
power and wealth of goverumeiit. The 
whole has been accomplished by the volun^ 
tary effuiHs of individual enterprize and 
industry. 

This wonderful tra?isition, by which ("in 
the space of 23 yean-J this i7P.mense wil- 
derness has been converted into fruitful 
fields ; seems like the illusions of a dreamf 
even to those who have witnessed its pro- 
gress. 

The native forests have given place to 
village seminaries of learning, and tenp 
pies for christian worship ; and the arts 
and refinements of civilized society, have 
rapidly s%icceeded the footsteps of the wmi- 
dering savage. 

It is justly due to the deceased to state,, 
that throughout his long journey of life, 
his character for integrity was not only 
unquestioned, but proverbial ; and so long 
as history shall retain a memorial of the 
first settlement of this country, the name 
oj" Hugh White will be remembered wuh 
veneration and respect. a JSEieasoiw" 



328 



GAZETTEER OF NEW- YORK. 



of independence, expands his mind, and 
diffuses happiness by reciprocation. In 
1788, the Town of" German Flats was 
divided, and a new Town erected, which 
was named Whitestown, in honor of Mr. 
"White. In 1791. Herkimer County was 
erected from Montgomery, including- 
this part of the country ; and several 
new Towns formed of this by subdivi- 
sions. In 1798, the County of Oneida 
was erected, by a subdivision of Herki- 
mer, and Whitestown included within 
this County. Successive subdivisions 
have at length restricted the limits of 
Whitestown to about a medial of 5 miles 
by 8. ' It is situated immediately on the 
i!freat tlioroughfare between Albany and 
the Western Lakes : between Canada 
and the principal commercial sea-ports 
of the American States on the Atlantic 
Ocean. In addition to the Mohawk, 
which washes its northern boundary, the 
Oriskany and Sadahqueda creeks run 
northerly into the Mohawk, affording a 
i^reat abundance of the best sites for hy- 
draulic works, and extensive and fertile 
alluvial flats. Indeed, says a Correspon- 
dent, these streams are almost literally 
covered with mills, through their whole 
extent in this Town. This Town con- 
tains 3 large Post-Villages ; Utica, in- 
corporated, Whitesborough&wd jYew-JIart- 
ford, separately described, which see. — 
"Utica, on the site of old Fort Schuyler, 
contains 300 houses, and a population of 
1700 souls. It is the commercial capi- 
tal of the great Western District, and 
the central point of all the great aven- 
ues of communication. AVhitesborough, 
the next in magnitude, is less commer- 
cial, but excels in beauty and elegance. 
The Courts for Oneida County are held 
alternately here and at Rome. Here ai-e 
100 houses, on a street of 1| mile in 
length, and about 600 souls. N ew-Hart- 
FoRi>, is tlie titiest farming Village, and 
lias its full sliare of trade, industry and 
useful arts. "Whitestown, including these 
Villages, stands unrivalled in the Unit- 
ed States, in wealth, popidatlon, trade 
'Mv\ improvements, aminig inland Towns 
of so receipt settlement : and none in 
this State, of the same area, presents so 
•gi-eat a population. There are 7princi- 
p:d churches ; 1 Episcopal, 3 Pi-esbyte- 
rian, 2 Baptist, in one of which the ser- 
vice is performed in the Welsh lan- 
j;-uage, and one of Welsh Independents ; 
beside some smaller houses dedicated to 
the same purpose. There are 3 gram- 
jiiar-schools, one in each Village, and 
q,oinmon tcnojl-houses aiid schools in 



convenient abundance. The manufactu- 
ring spirit has taken deep root in this 
Town. A cotton mamtfactory, on the 
Sadahqueda, has 512 spfindles, (soon to 
be extended to 1000,) and employs 200 
iamilies in picking cotton, he, and 60 
persons in the factory. This establish- 
ment belongs to the Oneida manufactu- 
ring society, incorporated ; who connect 
also with it a machine shop, trip-ham- 
nier, and accommodations ibr bleaching 
and dying. The New-Hartford associa- 
tion has been oi-ganized with a capital 
of g200,000 ; a thi-d Company, with a 
capital of §300,000, has commenced an 
establishment for a cotton and woollen 
factory, on the Oriskany, on a very large 
scale. Connected with tliis, is an asso- 
ciation for the propagation of valuable 
sheep ; and a flock of 500 already col- 
lected, among which are many merinoes, 
of different grades of blood. Six hun- 
dred acres of land, on the banks of the 
Mohawk, are appropriated to this pur- 
pose, and named Mount Merino. A 
fourth company is also formed, with a 
capital of §20,000, for weaving, dying, 
and finishing cloths. The numerous 
turnpikes and roads that centre in this. 
Town, with the navigation of the Mo- 
hawk, &.C., give great facility of commu- 
nication, and indicate the growing im- 
portance of the place. This Town is 
considerably embellished in appearance, 
by many elegant seats of men of opu- 
lence, and elegant private mansions. — 
The population of Whitestown, by the 
Census of 1810, 4912 ; and there are 533. 
senatorial electors. Two miles W. of 
New-Hartford, is a pleasant collection 
of about 30 houses, called Middle Set- 
tlement. 

T.K.G..C.S.,E.i\f.&.M.H. 
WniTE-PiATNs, a Post-Township and 
half-shire Town of Westchester County, 
50 miles from New-York, 140 S. of Al- 
bany, 6 miles E, of the Hudson, and 14 
S. oi' Bedfordf the other half-shire Town; 
bounded Northerly by North-Castle, 
Easterly by Hai-rison, Southerly by 
Scarsdale, W. by Greensburg'h. Bronx 
creek runs S. along the V\ . line, and 
Mamaroneck erect along the E., form- 
ing the bour.'dary toward Harrison.— 
These .streams supply mill-seats, and the 
land is of a good quality for farming 
and well cultivated. The whole area of 
this Town may be 8 1-2 square miles ; 
its population in 1810, was 693, with 68 
electors, 109 taxable inhabitants, and 
§185,004 of taxable property. The VU~ 
la^-c of Whilc-riains is pleasantly ailu- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



329 



ated on a fine plain 3-4 mile E. of Bronx 
creek, and contains a court-house, pri- 
son, and a handsome collection of hou- 
ses. The surface is broken by a ran^^e 
of hills from the S., but they only di- 
versify with a pleasing variety of soil 
and position, and the lands are duly dis- 
tributed into portions for meadow, pas- 
ture and tillage. Tlie Historic events 
connected with the name of White- 
iplains, will long live in the pages of A- 
merican history; and the autumn of 1776 
was made memorable by a bloody battle 
on these plains, October 28, as well as 
l^y a series of disasters of the most por- 
tentous import. 

S.D.&N.T. 
WixisBonouGH, a Post-Township of 
Essex County, with a Post-Office, 530 
miles from Washington, erected in 1788, 
then in Clinton County and very exten- 
sive ; several Towns have been since e- 
rected from it. In 1799, on the erec- 
tion of Essex from a part of Clinton 
County, the Courts were ordered to be 
lield in this Town ; the Blockhouse 
being constituted a court-house and jail 
for the new County. It is bounded N. 
by Chesterfield, E. by Lake Champlain, 
or the State of Vermont ; S. by Essex, 
W. by Lewis. The land along the Lake 
is level and pretty productive. A small 
mill-stream afibrds many sites for water 
works ; and iron-ore, of ihe best quality, 
is found in great abundance. There are 
57 senatorial electors, and the taxable 
property is valued at §74,241. The po- 
pulation, 66,3. There is one distillery, 
a forge for making bar-iron, an anchor 
shop, a carding-machine and a clothiery, 
besides a considerable number of grain 
and saw -mills. 

B.D.P.&S.F. 
WiLLiA^rsoif, a Township of Ontario 
County, 20 miles N. a little E. of Canan- 
daigua, and 206 miles from Albany ; 
bounded N. on Luke Ontario, E. by So- 
dus and Lyons, S. by Palmyra, W. by 
Ontario. It has PuUeneyville Poat-Office, 
and comprises Townships No. 13 and 14 
in the 2d Range of Phelps and Gorham's 
purchase ; being 10 miles N. and S., by 
5 E. and W. The land is of a good 
quality, and it has some small mill- 
streams that run N. to Lake Ontario, 
toward which the land has a general 
descent. This Town has its name from 
Col. Williamson, the former agent of the 
Pulteney estate, as has the Post-Office 
from that family, who own a large share 
of the wild lands of this County. There 
is a road from Canandaigua to Sodus bay 



that leads through the S. E. part of this 
Town. In 1810, the whole population 
was 1139, when there were 55 senatorial 
electors. The cloth made in families 
amounted to 13,000 yards in 1810- A 
red oxyd of iron is found in this Town, 
which is a good pigment for a paint, 
perfectly resembling the Spanish brown 
of commerce. It is in the form of fine 
dust, with small nucleous pebbles that 
seem an ore of iron, for which it is usu- 
ally gathered. 

N.T.,D.T.&J.C.S. 

WiLLiAMST0w?f, a Post-Township of 
Oneida County, (^^*ec•ted in 1805, from 
a part of Mexico, and consists of the 
5th and 6lh Townships of Scriba's Pa- 
tent, each Township being six miles 
square. It is bounded on the N. by Red- 
field and Richland, E. by Camden and 
Florence, S. by Constantia, W. by Mexi- 
co and Richland. This is yet a newly 
settled Town, and contains about 90 se- 
natorial electors. The soil is good, 
mostly a strong loam, better adapted 
for grass than grain. The streams of 
water ai"e small, though it furnish the 
sources of the W. branch of Fish creek, 
which becomes a good mill-stream, and 
has many excellent sites for mills — 
Roads are opened in various directions, 
and the State road leads through its 
centre, from Rotterdam to Mexico. — 
There are several small ponds, but none 
wortliy of notice ; and there are no other 
public buildings than a few school-hou- 
ses. The population in 1810, 562, and 
82 senatorial electors. The Post-Office 
was established in 1812. 

GC;.C.8cT.C. 

WiLLijfCK, a large Township at the 
S. end of Niagara Countv, erected in 
1808, 15 miles S. oi Buffalo, and 315 W. 
of Albany; bounded N. by Buffalo and 
Clarence, E. by Genesee County, S. by 
Cataraugus creek or the County of Ca- 
taraugus and a small corner of Chatau- 
qua County, Westerly by Lake Erie or 
the British possessions in Canada. It is 
very extensive, and comprises about 18 
Townships of the Holland Company 
lands. Buffiilo creek, with several bran- 
ches, spreads over the N. and E., in the 
S. is Cataraugus which receives many 
small branches from the S. part, and the 
centre is watered by the Caughquaga 
and several smaller streams that run in- 
to Lake Erie. The land is of various 
qualities, much of it very rich and valu- 
able, and some but indifferent or very 
poor. Its general chai'acter may be that 
of a good country for farming. The N. 



330 



GAZEl^EER OF NEW-YORK. 



W. corner is about 3 miles from the 
Village of Buffalo. Roads are much 
wanted, and the general character of the 
inhabitants for enterprize and perseve- 
rence, together with the acknowledg-ed 
importance of improved roads in this 
quarter, may seem to promise them 
soon. A Post-Office is said to have been 
recently established at the mouth of Ca- 
taratigus creek in the S. W- ; but whe- 
ther in this County or that of Chatau- 
<qua I do not learn. It is said here is a 
good harbor, and a village of 20 houses. 
Sn 1810, the whole population of Wil- 
linck was 2028, when there were 260 
senatorial electors. 

XW.,N.T.&S.G. 
WiTfDHiw, a large Post-Township of 
Creene County, comprising all that part 
of this County on the S. and W. of the 
summit of the Catsbergs or Catskill 
anountains ; bounded Northerly by Dur- 
ham, Cairo and Catskill, E. by the north- 
ern angle of Ulster County, S. by Ulster 
and a part of Delaware Counties, W. by 
Delaware County. It has a Post-Office 
of the same name, and is about 24 miles 
in length ; its medial width may be 12 
miles. The surface is mountainous or 
Siilly throughout, but has much good 
pasture lands that yield dairy of su- 
jperior excellence. The Schoharie creek 
rises in the S.E. part of. tliis Town, and 
spreads over the central part, to the 
3Sr. W. corner, where it enters Schoha- 
rie County. This stream has abundance 
of mill-seats, and several small brandi- 
es, the largest of which is Batavia creek, 
on which are mills also. It sends some 
small brooks into Esopus creek, and 
supplies the source of Papachton branch 
of the Delaware river. Along these 
streams are some alluvial lands, rich 
and fertile. It has some turnpikes, and 
that to Cairo is most used. Another 
one has been granted by the Legisla- 
ture from Catskill Village to Delhi, in 
Delaware Counly, and opened about 15 
miles, extending into the S. part of 
Windham, but it is doubtful if it be 
soon completed. This road crosses the 
Catsbergs at a surprising altitude, no- 
ticed under Mountains, p. 9,* which at- 
tracts the notice of luimerous parties 
in summer. 1'he view from this moun- 
tain is inexpressibly grand, and well me- 
5-its the attention of those who delight 
to contemplate the stupendous scenery 
of nature. Tiie high fall of the Kaat- 
crskill is about a half mile from this 

* See also page 78, f Or Oguaga. 1 



road, neiu- the summit of the mountain, 
and 12 miles from Catskill. The stream 
arises from 2 small ponds, | mile apart, 
and runs gently 2 miles, where it breaks 
over a rocky precipice of 310 feet per- 
pendicular height. The W. part of 
Windham is about 35 miles W. front 
Catskill, its principal market. The po- 
pulation 3965, senatorial electors 267 ; 
and the taxable property 301,236 dol- 
lars. Batavia and Greenland, are two 
small villages, known, however, to the 
inhabitants by these names- 

.T.P.,J.H.&N.C.T. 
Windsor, a large Township in the S. 
E. corner of Broome County, erected in 
1807, from the E. part of Chenango ; si- 
tuated 15 miles E. of Chenango ; bound- 
ed N. byCbenango County, E. by Delawai-e 
County, S. by the State of Pennsylvania, 
W. by Chenango. Its extent is nearly 
equal to 15 miles square, and it has 2 
Post-Offices, Oquago P. 0., 16 miles E. 
of Chenango Point, 120 miles from Alba- 
ny ; and Colesville P. O., 125 miles from 
Albany. The Susquehanna river runs 
centrally South across this Town into 
Pennsylvania, where it makes the Great 
Bend, and curves W. till it again enters 
this Slate just at the S. AV. corner of 
this Town, in which its whole course 
may have been about 16 miles. In 1810, 
there were 11 saw -mills, 7 grain-mills, 
a fulling-mill, and carding-machine. — 
There were also 8 school-houses, and 1 
house <jf worship, with a whole popula- 
tion ot 1960 souls, 138 electors, and near 
300 families. Windsor has the Great 
Btnd tiu-npike, a turnpike also from Jeri- 
cho in Chenango County, and many other 
roads. The Village of Oquago\ is cen- 
trally situated, on the W. side of the 
Susquehanna river, 16 miles E. of Che- 
nango Point, 14 miles W. of Deposit at 
the Cook-house in Delaware County, and 
120 miles from Albany. It has a Post- 
Office and about 40 houses on a street of 
about 2 miles in length. Colesville is 
in the N. part of the Town, where is a 
settlement so called. The uplands are 
stony, but produce good pasture, and the , 
vallies are warm and productire. In the 
E. part of this Town, on what are called 
the Kandolph hills, around Oquago, are 
fine and extensive groves of locust, so 
valuable in ship-building; great quanti- 
ties of which are carried to Deposit on 
the Delaware, and thence descend that 
river in rafts to Philadelphia. The Kan- 
dolph hills locust has a high reputation., 
and may be I'ound in many of the princi- 
pal sea-ports to tJie eastward of Phi^- 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



331 



del;jtiia. This tract abounds with milj- 
se^ts. 

W.R.,E.C,&C.P. 

Woodstock, a Post-Township of Ul- 
ster County, 14 miles N. W of Kingston, 
bounded N. by Greene County, S. by 
Hurley, W. by Shandaken. This Town 
is mountainous or hilly, and much of the 
land is yet in a state of nature. The 
whole population in 1810, was 950, when 
there were 68 electors, and 52 looms in 
families which made 12,000 yards of 
cloth for common clothing-. The Ulster 
and Delaware turnpike leads W. into 
Delaware County, and there is also a 
short turnpike from the glass factories 
in this Town to Sau;'erties on the Hud- 
son. There are 2 churches ; a Luther- 
an, and Dutch Reformed. The land is 
held by lease for three lives. There are 
two glass factories in this Town, abloom- 
ery, and some mills. The Catsbergs of 
Greene County, are here assuming their 
mountain character, and soon mount to a 
lofty altitude on the North, as if indig- 
nant that the inconsiderable streams of 
Ulster County should have wom their 
way to the Hudson through these ancient 
ridges of the Apallachian mountains. — 
The inhabitants are reserving coal-mines 
in all their transfers of land, and sup 
pose that they have found sure indica-' 
tions of that valuable fossil; but I do 
not learn that any coal has yet been 
found. 

C.T. 

WoLcoTT, a Township at the N. end of 
Seneca County, organized in 1810, from 
the N. end of Junius, including William- 
son and that part of Sterling which lies 
in Seneca County ; bounded N. by Lake 
Ontario, E. by Cayuga County, S. by Ga- 
len in the Town of Junius, W. by Onta- 
rio County. Its extent is about 12 
miles square. The E. part of Sodus bay, 
and the whole of Port bay, are in this 
Town. At the head of Port bay is a fine 
saline or salt spring, first improved in 
1809. • The small streams that rise here 
and run N- into the Lake are very nu- 
merous. The soil is principally a light 
loam, and the deciduous woods are inter- 
mixed with hemlock. In 1810, the po- 
pulation was 480, and there were 59 se- 
natorial electors. It is about 200 miles 
from Albany, and 20 N. of Seneca falls. 

I.e. 

WoKCESTEH, a Township of Otsego 
County, 13 miles S. E. of Coopersto~ivn ,- 
I Dunded N. by Decatur, Easterly by 
Schoharie County, Southerly by Char- 
lotte creek or Delaware County, W. by 



Maryland. It is a hilly Township, with 
deep and rich vallies of mold, and is a. 
good country for grazing. Besides Char- 
lotte creek, which forms its southern 
boundary, it has Shenevas creek running 
parallel with that, and on which are se- 
veral saw and grain-mills. And along- 
this are also some valuable fiats. la 
1810, the whole population was 1140, 
with* 87 senatorial electors, 213 taxable 
inhabitants, and 74,402 dollars of taxable 
property. Worcester was erected m\.o 
a Town on the organixation of this Coun- 
ty in 1801, and embi-aced the whole 
tract now divided into Worcester, Ma- 
ryland, Westford, and Decatur, which 
were organized in 1808. 

N.C.T.,B.G,&.E.P. 

Wading-River, Village, see River- 
head. 

Wallabogt, Wallaboght, or Walla- 
bout, (for it is so variously written,) is 
a local name for a part of the Town of 
Brooklyn lying N. E. of the Village, 
which it^akes from a small bay called 
Wallabogt by the early Dutch inhabi- 
tants.* In this bay or cove was station- 
ed the Jefsey, a British piison-ship, in 
the time of the American war for Inde- 
pendence, on board of which it is said 
10,000 prisoners of war perished. Its 
ruins are now buried under the public 
wharves. But this place is now princi- 
pally remarkable, as being the site of 
the United States' Navy- Yard and public 
store-houses, erected on a strip of land 
purchased by the United States for these 
purposes. The situation is perfectly 
well adapted for an establishment of this 
nature ; and there are now erected two 
large and convenient wharves, and 4 
brick stores 4 stories in height, besides 
a large wooden house lately erected for 
tlie use of the Commandant of the Yard, 
at an expense of about 20,000 dollars. 
The whole is inclosed by a stout fence, 
and is placed under the care of a Lieut. 
Commandant, who constantly resides 
here, and keeps a guard of marines for 
the safety of the public property. The 
keel of a 74 gun-ship, laid in 1799, is 
still in a state of preservation. In dig» 
ging for the public works, the bleaching 

* Tradition asserts that this name is 
from tihe Dutch -.oords Waallen, for Wal- 
loons, and Bogt, fur cove ; it is therefore 
IValloon-cove. The Walloo7is were JJtitch 
Protestants of French extraction from the 
river Waal in the JVetherlands, -who were- 
the first inhabita7its here, and vihose det- 
ceniants still remaiti. 



332 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



bones of the sufferers on board the Jer- 
sey were exposed to view in such quan- 
tities as to excite much interest. And 
in JMay, 1808, ihey were collected and 
decently interred at a little distance, 
"where it is intended to erect a suitable 
monument. The spot is designated at 
present by a small house, surrounded 
by a triangu'ar paling', painted black. 

C.J.C 

WALXKiti.,* a fine stream that rises in 
the N. of New-Jersey, and runs N. East 
«rly across ihe W. part of Orange and 
the S. E, corner of Ulster Counties in 
this State, to the Hudson near Kingston. 
Its whole course may be near 80 miles, 
65 of which are in this St.de, beginning- 
at the Drowned Lands in Orange Coun- 
ty, through which it runs. In this dis- 
tance, it receives a great number of 
branches, the largest of which are Ron- 
doutkill, from the W. side of the Shaw- 
angunk mountains, and &fiaiva?ig-unk kill, 
from the E. side, both valuable streams 
for mills, and each about 30 miles in 
length. 

P.E.E. 

"W-irpixGEu's Cheek, Post-Office, see 

POURHKEEPSIE. 

Wappinker's Creek, rises in Xorth- 
East, Duchess County, and runs S. W. to 
the Hudson, 8 miles below the Village of 
I'oughkeepsie. It receives several branch- 
es that water the rich farming Towns of 
Stanford, Washington and Clinton, be- 
sides forming the boundary between 
Poughkeepsie and Fishkill. Its whole 
course may be about 33 miles, in which 
it supplies many valuable mill-seats. 
Wardsbridge, r.c, see Montoomekt, 
Washington, Village, see Water- 

TLTET. 

Washington County, see page 110; 
Wf.st-Ciiester County, 112. 

Waterpord, a populous and compact 
incorporated Post-Village in the S. E. 
corner of Halfmoon, Saratoga County, 
on the W. bank of the Hudson, 10 miles 
jV. of Albany, and 4 N. of Troy. It is 
handsomely seated on a fine level sur- 
f'lce, and on the point of land formed by 
the junction of the upper sprout or del- 
ta of the Mohawk with the Hudson, and 
is the most ])Opulous Town in the Coun- 
ty, and has by far the most trade. Here 
is a toll-bridge across the Hudson, to 

* Jf I am correctly informed, tin. s name 
•was origivAilhi -written iraal-kill, in allu- 
sion to I he ri-ver Waal in Europe, from 
which cnme &ome of the early inhahiiants 
loho settled on the borders of this stream. 



the upper part of Lansingburgh oii the 
opposite shore ; and near here is also a 
toll-bridge across the Mohawk, below ^ 
and in full view of the Cahoos, the great 
Falls of that river. This is on the main 
N. road from Albany, which leads through 
Waterford. In a few instances, a mode- 
rate degree of the swell occasioned by 
the tides in the Hudson has been per- 
ceived at Waterford, whicli was former- 
ly called Halfmoon-Point. ■ The Hudson, 
however, can hai'dly be called navigable 
to this place at present, and its trade is 
principally carried on in flat-bottomed 
boats, scow-built, and rigged with sails. 
Great efforts are making to improve the 
navigation, which may probably be ef- 
fected in time, as the object shall in- 
crease in magnitude, with the increase 
of population. The Village is hand- 
somely laid out, on 5 E. and W. streets, 
intersected by others at right angles. 
There are now 190 houses and stores, a 
large proportion of wliich are of brick, 
2 houses of worship, and some other 
buildings. There are 3 schools, one on 
the Lancaster plan, and in one. the lan^ 
guages are taught, with the higher 
branches of polite and classical litera- 
ture. A large and elegant new building 
is about to be erected by the Trustees 
of the Village, for the accommodation of* 
these schools. Just at the point, a I'oll- 
ing dam is thrown across the Mohawk, 
which supplies some mills ; and Watei'- 
ford is well situated for a manufacturing 
Town. Since the above was written, I 
learn that a wharf of 320 yards in length 
was constructed in 1812, at great expense 
and labor, together with a canal chan- 
nel, extending along it to the channel of 
the Hudson. The wharf leads from the 
Point into the Hudson on an angle of 
about 45", inclining downwards. This 
will probably prove of some considerable 
advantage, but the only way to remove 
these difficulties at once, is by turning' 
the course of the lower sprouts of the 
Mohawk. Sec Lansingburgit. 

A.B.,.I.S.,&S.G, 

Watertilee, a small \ illage in Stam.- 
FORI), Delaware County. 

AVaterVille, a thriving little village, 
principally in the Town of Sangerfield, 
Oneida County. It contains 41 dwell- 
ings, several mills, stores, shops, &c., 
and about .100 souls. It has a Baptist 
meeting-house, and a school-house. 

O.N. 

Weehotuck, a branch of the Housa- 
tonic river of Connecticut, rises in the 
Oblonj;-, a^ pM-t of Northeast Town, of 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



333 



Ducbess County, and runs S. through 
Amenia, and across the N. E. corner of 
Trover into Connecticut, where it enters 
the Housatonic just at the line of the 
f^tate. li receives several branches, and 
its whole course may be about 33 miles. 

Wenscoat, see Easthampton. 

West-Catuga Village, see Jujrius. 

Wt.st Cheek, and natural Canal there, 
see India IT Ritsh and Le Ray. 

W. Cattada CreeKj the larg^est north- 
ern brancli of the Mohawk, vdiich enters 
that river at the German Flats, 6 miles 
above the Little FalLs, arid about 3 quar- 
ters of a mile below the Village of Her- 
kimer. It is a rapid stream, and its 
sources among- the highlands and exten- 
sive evergi-een swamps of the northern 
continuation of the Catsbe'-g hills, are 
interlocked with those of the Black ri- 
ver, which runs northward into Lake 
Ontario. From its source it runs west- 
ward for about 25 miles, within the Co. 
of Herkimer, till it reach the County of 
Oneida and forms its eastern boundaiy, 
curving S., then S. E., and leaves that 
boundary after about 12 miles, and runs 
centrally through Herkimer Co. to the 
Mohawk. lis whole course is about 60 
mdes. Rising in the wild tracts of ever- 
g-reen swamps thai abound in this quar 
ter, its course is little known till it ar- 
rive near the confines of Oneida County ; 
here it meets a ranf:,e of hills through 
which it has worn a devious course, pass- 
es several falls, and emerges into a bet- 
ter country, titnbered with deciduous fo- 
rest trees. The road from the Little 
Falls to Lewis County, passes this stream 
at a beautiful fall of great height, im- 
mediaiely below wliich is a bridge of 9U 
feet span. Tliis fall is a mass of cas- 
cades, of unequal height, and all com- 
bined, forms one of the most picturesque 
views I ever beheld. About 2 miles be- 
low is another fall, of about 100 feet 
within a few rods. This is said to sur- 
pass the upper one in height and in sub- 
limity. SeeTnENToif. From this Fall 
to the Mohuwk are many rapids and falls, 
its whole course being through the hilly 
country described as a continuation 
of ihe Catsbeigs, or Catskill hills. A 
lai-ge wooden bridge has been erected 
across this creek, near its mouth. 

L.G. 

West-Fakms, r.c, see West-Ghes- 

TEK. 

Wkst Hamptox, P.O., sec Southamp- 
ton, 



West-Point, a military post on ths 
W. bank of the Hudson, in its passage 
through the Highlands, in the Township 
f/f Cornwall, Orange County, which see. 
During the Revolutionaiy war, this Point 
was stron ly fortified, and deemed one 
of the most important fortresses in A- 
merica. The plain that forms the bank 
of the "river is elevated 176 feet, and 
Fort Putnam, a short distance in its 
rear, 561 feet. Military men have pro- 
nounced this a most important post, but 
its works are now little more than heaps 
of ruins, and it is much to be wished 
there" "nay not soon be occasion to re- 
build them. A military academy is estab- 
lished here under the auspices of the 
general government, with liberal endow- 
ments ; and there are some few soldiers 
also. See Mountains, page 9, and 
Orange Countt, page 92; and for a 
detailed account of ihe above institu- 
tion, see the American Medical and Phi- 
losophical Register for July, 1812, page 

107. 

P.P.,&S.L.M. 

West Puetenet, see Riga, as also foi; 
E. Pulteney. 

Whitesbohough, a flourishing Post- 
Village of Whitestown, Oneida Countj', 
4 miles N. W. of Utica. Here is the 
Post-Office called Whitestoivn, 97 miles 
from Albany. The Courts for Oneida 
County are held alternately in this 
Village and at Rome. The court-house 
is a handsome brick building, admired 
for the elegance and convenience of its 
design and execution. The Villag'e of 
Whitesborough extends about 1 3-4 mile 
in length, on a principal street, and has 
lOU houses, 2 churches — 1 Baptist and 
1 Presbytei;ian ; a court-house, jail, se- 
veral S'ores, inns, mechanics' shops, and 
several large factories. It is also em- 
bellished b}' some elegant private man- 
sions, and Mr. Breese's seat is spokea 
of as one of the handsomest in the State. 
The luxuriant productiveness of its gar- 
dens, fruit-nurseries, and orchards, is 
not excelled by those of any Village in 
the State ; and form a common theme of 
delight with travellers. See Whites- 
town. 

T.R.G.&C.S. 

White Lake, p.o., see Bethel. 

Westville, P.O., see Berkshihe, 

Whiteface Mountain, one of the high- 
est points of the mountains of Essex Co., 
commands a very extensive prospect of 

43 



334 



GAZETTEER OF NEW-YORK. 



the surrounding country. See Jat — and 
Giant of the Valley. 

WllLIAMSBtJRGH, SCC BuSHWICK. 
WlLLIAMSVIlLE, P.O., SCe BUFFALO. 
"VTlTTEMBEBG, SCe RhINEBECK. 

Wood Creek, of Lake Champlain, ri- 
ses in Kingsbury, and runs N. by Fort 
Anne village, to the head of Lake Cham- 
plain at Whitehall Landing, formerly 
Skenesborough. Its whole course may 
be 23 miles, and it receives several 
branches, one of which is Paiulet river 
from Vermont, across the N. E. of Gran- 
ville, uniting with Wood Creek near the 
centre of the Town of Whitehall. 

Wood Creek, of Oneida Lake, is con- 
nected with the Mohawk by the canal at 
Rome, through which the navigation is 
extended to the Oneida Lake. This 
stream receives several branches ; and 
Fish Creek, which enters it from the N. 
near its mouth, is longer and larger than 
itself. 

Wtnant's Kill, a small stream of 
Rensselaer County that enters the Hud- 
son in the Township of Troy, about 2 
miles S. of Poesten kill. Its whole 
course may be 15 miles, and it has ex- 
cellent rail-seats near the Hudson, on 
which are erected extensive and valua- 
ble water-works, for which see Tkox. 



YOJVKERS, a Post-Township of W. 
Chester County, on the E. ban'.; of the 
Hudson, immediately nbove New-York 
Island, 20 miles N. of New-York, 140 S. 
of Albany, and 10 S. W of White- Plains ; 
bounded N. by Green sburgh, E. by E. 
Chester and a small angle of West-Ches- 
ter, or by Bronx creek ; S by W. Ches- 
ter and is^ew-York City and County, W. 
by the Hiidson. It exteJids near 8 miles 
along the Hudson, and has a medial 
Avidth of near three miles. Saw -mill 
creek enters the Hudson near the centre 
of the VV. line, at the little village of 



Philipsburgh ; and Bronx creek has also a 
a branch across the N. E. corner that af- 
fords mill seats, of which there tre 
abundance. The surface is considerably 
broken, but the lands are well cultivated 
and pretty productive. The heights of 
Fordham, with Tetard's hill, Boar hill, 
and the N. part of Valentine's hill, names 
well known in the Revolutionary war, 
are in this Town, as are the ruins of 
Fort Independence. The road to Alba- 
ny lies along the bank of the Hudson, 
where are many fine views and handsome 
sites for country seats. In 1810, the 
whole population of this Town was 1365, 
with 93 electors, 204 taxable inhabit- 
ants ; and the taxable property, as va- 
lued by the Assessors, amounted to 428,- 
232 dollars. 

J.W.,S.D.,SiN.C.T. 
York, orYoKKxcwN, a Township of 
West-Chester County, 45 miles N. of 
New-York, 120 S. of Albany, and 8 N. 
W. of Bedford ,- bounded N. by Duchess 
County, E. by Somers and New-Castle, 
S. by New.Castle, W. by Cortlandt. Its 
length N. and S. 10 miles, and it is near- 
ly 4 miles wide. The N- is broken by 
the hills of the southern border of the 
Highlands, and the general surface is 
hilly, though its hills are of a moderate 
height in the South. A branch of Peeks- 
kill creek in the N., of Croton creek ia 
the W., together with Croton creek that 
crosses the S. end, supply abundance of 
mill-seais. The soil is generally pro- 
ductive, and well distributed into ara- 
ble, pasture and meadow lands. Much 
of it is stony ; and previous to the late 
introduction of gypsum as a manure, 
many farms were nearly exhausted by 
constant tillage. In 1810, thei-e were 
269 taxable inhabitants, 142 electors, 
1924 persons in all; and tlie taxable 
properly was valued at gii63,843. 

S.D.,&N.T, 

Yellow-Hook, see Brooklyn. 

YouNGSTOwN, an inconsiderable set- 
tlement, called a village, in Cambria, 
Niagara County, 1 mile from Fort Nia- 
gara, and 6 from Lewiston, containing 
about 6 or 8 houses. 

J.H, 



APPENDIX. 



/Since this work was written, and while it has been in the press, several changed 
/^ave been made in the civil divisions of this State. Two new Counties have been 
erected, and a coiisiderable number of new Towns or Townships : the Counties, at" 
too late a date, for insertion in this work, as were the most of the Towns also. 
And though their population may, in most instances, be pretty nearly conjectured, 
yet I have deemed it best to decline every such attempt, except in the cases of the 
Counties ; leaving to actual enumeration, what that only can accomplish. A list 
is added here, with some few remarks. 

PcTiTAM County, was erected in June, 1812, from the S. end of Duchess County. 
It is formed of the Towns of Philips or Philipstown, Carmel, Frederick, Patterson 
and South-East. Courts are at present held in the Baptist meeting-house, in the 
Town of Carmel; and this County sends 1 member to the House of Assembly. The 
following, therefore, taken from Duchess County, page 73, forms its 

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLE. July, 1813. 

Towns. Pop. 1810. Elect. Remarks. 

Cahmel, 2020 — 153 — 26 m. S. E. from Poughkeepsie. Part of the HighlandsJ 

Frederick, 1811- — 98 — 20 m. S. E. from Pough. ; part of Hlghliuids; iron-ore. 
Patterson, P.O. 1446 — 110— Patterson V., or Fredericksburgh, 22 m. S. E, from P. 
Philips, P.O. 3129—165 — Anthony's Nose ; Fort Constitution ; the Highlands. 
Southeast,p.o.l887— 161— IlSra. from Albany; 31 S. E. from Poughkeepsie. 



3 10,293 687 
The Supervisors are directed to raise the necessary monies, in the usual way, 
for erecting the County buildings, for which purpose they are itithorised by law tof 
raise a sum not exceeding 6000 dollars. Commissioners are also named in the law 
for erecting the County, who are to designate the site of the court-house and pri- 
son, and to superintend the building thereof. For the Topographical details, see 
the above Towns. 



Warken- County, was erected from the N. W. extremity of Washington County, 
March 12, 1813. It comprises the Towns of Bolton, Caldwell, Chester, Hague, 
Johnsburgh, Luzerne, Queensbury, and Thurman, the last of which is divided into 
2 Towns, called Athol and Warrenburgh. Tlie name of Thurman is therefore ex- 
tinct in this County, except as a Fost-Office, which is in the Town of Warren- 
burgh. Accordhig to the present civil divisions of Warren County, the following 



■ts 



TOPOGRAPHIAL AND STATISTICAL^TABLE. July, 1813. 



Towns. P. Off. Pop. S, Elect. Remarks. 

thol, 443* — 20*-erec. 1813 from part of Thurman. Pop. &c., unknown.' 

jlton, 726 — 30— N. W. bay and Narrows, 14 m. fr. Caldwell, 76 fr. Alb. 

MDWELL, p o., 560 63— Old Forts Wm. Hen. Si Geo : Caldwell V., 62m.fr. A, 

i iiester, p.o., 937 — 120 — Rockbridge, Quaker m. h. ; 90 m. from Albany. 

/Jague, 398' — 21— Rogers's Rock ; Brant L. ; 22 m. N. E. of Caldwell. 

Johnsburgh, 651 82 — N.W. corner of County ; 23 miles N.W. of Caldwell* 

Luzerne, 1015 85 — formerly Fairfield ; 7 m. S.W. from Caldwell. 

Queensbury, 1 — 1948 — 197 — Glenville, 30 houses, p.o., and Glen's Falls. 
Warrenburgh, 1 — 887* — 41*-Thurman p.o., on Scroon river, 7 m. from Caldwell. 

3 1465 659 
Courts are to be held, until further provision by law, in the Village of Caldwell, 
at the Lake George Coffee House. For the description of this Countv, its soil, 
products, &c. see the above Towns. 

* The popidation of these Towns is unknoxun. That of Thurman was 1330 in 1810, 
luith 61 senatorial electors. In 1813, Athol had 27 senatorial electors, and Warren- 
burgh 47. Agreeable to these data, Athol may contain about 44)3 persons of the whole 
population^ and Warrenburgh 887 .■ and (he senatorial electors may then stand as in 
ihv taOh, 



APPENDIX; 



Tlie following Towns have been erected, in the years 1812 and 1813, »nd the seve 
ral cliang-es which follow. 



Alexander, in the County of Genesee 
Athol, ... Warren. 

JBang-or, ... Franklin. 

Bellona,aIt. to.Le Roy, '13, Genesee 



Ber.^-en, 

Detlianj', 

Columbia, 

Concord, 

Conhocton, 

Eastern, 

Eden, - - 

EUicott, 

Galen, ... 

Gates, alt. fr. N. Ampton, 

Gerry, 

Greenland, 

Groveland, 

Hambiirg'h, 

Hanover, 

Hartland, 

Howard, ... 

Ischna, 

Jersey, • - 

l«ike Pleasant, 



Genesee. 

Genesee. 

Herkimer. 

Niagara. 

Steuben. 

Chenango. 

Niagara- 

Chatauqua. 

Seneca. 

Genesee. 

Chatauqua. 

Greene. 

Ontario. 

Niagara. 

Chatauqua. 

Niagara. 

Steuben. 

Cataraugus. 

Steuben. 

Montgomery 



Le Roy, alt. fr. Bellona, '13, Genesee. 

, . , CAl. fr. New-Go--) 

Lexmgion, < shtii, Mar. isn. > Greene. 

\f alone, alt. fr. Ezraville, Franklin 

• endon, - - Ontario. 

-Middlebury, - . Genesee. 

Calt.to Lexington. ~> 

, -s ^J^^ Jon OT ioi'> ', 



\^ew-Goshen, 



New-Haven, 
Pembroke, 
Perrinton, 
f^orter, 
Portland, 
Hedhook, 
liidgeway, 
Rossie, 
iind Lake, 
Srhlosser, 
terling, 
-weden, 
Victor, 

Warrenburgh, 
vVilna, 



Jan. 27, 1813. r Greenf 



Oneida. 

Genesee, 

Ontario. 

Niagara. 

Chatauqua- 

Duchess. 

Genesee. 

St. Lawrence. 

Rensselaer. 

Niagara. 

Cayuga. 

Genesee. 

Ontario. 

Wan-en. 

Jefferson. 



WoLcoTT, at the N. end of Seneca County, was annexed to Cayuga County in 
i812; and there have been several changes in the boundaries and ,T owns, though 
none of very materia! importance. 



ERRATA. 

Sever;)l important errors, that have escaped correction, demand some notice here. 
In a wo;k of such inultif'arious description, most readers are aware that some ei*- 
lors aie to be expected ; and will, it is hoped, cheerfully make the following cor- 
rcc'ions with the pen. Literal and the less important errors, are necessarily 
omitted. 

Tdige 13, 14th line from the bottom, for Fahrenheit, read latitude. 

In the article GoTEnifMENT, he., pages 25 to 28, 3 learned Judge has obser^'ed 
some errors, which will be corrected in a second Edition ; as will some also that 
occur under University of New-Yoiik, p. 43. 

The following occur in the general Descriptions of Counties, and are principal 
corrected in the Topographical Descriptions. 
Page 67, Union Springs p o., is in Aurelius, instead of Scipio : and Aurora has a p o, 
72, add p.o. to Roxbury. — p. 73, Carmel is S.E. from Poughkeepsie. 

76, French mills p.o. is 235, instead of 135 m. from Aib : add e in Chateaugay. 

77, Braddock's bay is in Gates, instead of Parma. — p. 79 add p.o. to Norway. 
84, Johnstown is 42 miles from Albany. — p. 90, last line, (in a few copies,) for 

Albany, read Assembly^ 
92, After Blooming-Grov<>, add 1, under Post-Offices ; and after Salisbury V., 

add p o. ; — last line but one, for 3 h., read 30 h. 
94, Pla infield is 81 mies from Albany. — p. 97, 4ih line from bottom, for Gene- 
ral, read St.^te. 
99, to correct the Table for Rallston and Milton, see the Towns. 
KjO, sixth line from the top, for 290, read 190. 
107, Wiiite Lake r.o. is in Bethel, which sec, with Thompson. 



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